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LIFE
OP
REV. A. CROOKS. A. M.
WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY" HIS WIFE,
MRS. E, W. CROOKS.
" Servant of God, well done ;
Rest from thy loyed employ ;
The battle fought, the victory won ;
Enter thy Master s joy."
SYRACUSE, N. Y . :
PUBLISHED BY D. 8. KINNEY^ WESLEYAN METHODIST
PUBLISHING HOUSE.
1875.
INTRODUCTORY.
The present work is issued to perpetuate the precious
memory of ADAM CROOKS, as well as respond to the gener
al demand of a stricken people. Thrown upon the stage
of action when the world of morals was being shaken in
Church and State by priests and politicians, who held that
the right of American Slavery was not to be questioned,
the subject of this memoir, though still in his youth,
withstood the baseless claims of this vaunting Goliah.
This early stand for God and humanity started him upon
the pathway of independence of thought and action, which
characterized all his after life.
His sense of honor, his dignified manhood, his fidelity to
the truth, his faith in God, his deep piety, his practical
common sense, his unflinching fortitude, his tender sympa
thies, his breadth of thought, his care for the common weal,
and his philanthropic spirit made him a natural leader. Men
IV INTRODUCTORY.
felt like trusting him, and no man ever felt that trust be
trayed.
This memoir has been prepared, for the most part, by
her whose journey for nearly twenty-two years has been at
hi& side. That her deepest interest has entwined around
the objects of his toils and fortunes, it is eminently fitting
that to these pages should be given that careful and truth
ful expression of the facts of history, which her intimacy
with him will warrant.
And now that his dust so quietly rests in his hillside
home, no one will wonder that she feels deeply bereaved
as she still takes up the burden of life, and walks the
rough ways of the world all alone. Still anxious for the
dear people whom he loved so much and left so soon,
with his companions in arms, we know she still prays that
each may be loyal to duty, until one by one all may join
him again in the Paradise of God.
L. N. S.
TO THE
FAITHFUL SOLDIEKS IN THE MORAL
CONFLICT; HIS ASSOCIATES IN
THIS HOLY WAR :
TO THOSE
WHO FELL AROUND HIM, AND TO THOSE
WHO SURVIVE, AND UNTO
HIM
TO WHOM WE DEDICATE OUR SABBATHS,
OUR SANCTUARIES, AND OURSELVES,
THIS VOLUME
IS FAITHFULLY AND LOVINGLY
INSCRIBED.
LIFE
OF
REV. ADAM CROOKS, A, M
EARLY HISTORY,
ADAM CROOKS was born in Leesville) Carroll
County, Ohio, on the 3rd of May, A. D., 1824. He
was the son of William and Elizabeth Crooks, and
the fourth child of a family of thirteen. His father
was a man of the world, but taught his family the
strictest honesty and truthfulness. But that blessed
gift of Heaven, a godly mother, by her uniform pie
ty and the agency of the Holy Spirit, often awak
ened in him the most pungent convictions of sin,
and led to secret prayer and solemn promises of
reformation, but nothing further.
When some fourteen years of age, a singular in
cident occurred, which was destined, under Divine
Providence, to shape his future course. His broth
er William, some four years his senior, was some-
THE LIFE OF
what skeptical as to the divine origin of Christianity,
remarked, in a careless manner, " I do not believe
in religion. I believe those who profess it are
hypocrites ; but if I should ever go to the altar for
prayers, I should never leave it until I knew for
certain." Although not a Christian himself, yet
Adam secretly prayed with all the fervor of his
heart that William might be constrained to go to
the altar. For he thought his brother s conversion
a thing very desirable. It was not an hour until
William was most deeply convicted, and at the
altar the next evening he found salvation. He be
came an exemplary Christian, and a devoted min
ister of the Gospel; and on February 14th, 1847,.
went up to glory.
From the hour of his brother s conversion, Adam
became a secret seeker of personal salvation, fre
quently praying twenty times a day, but seemingly
to no effect; for he thus wandered in darkness for
months. But the blessed hour of deliverance came.
It was one Spring morning, he was returning from
his place of secret prayer, across his father s farm.
Just as the sun spread his golden mantle over field
and forest, and saluted his eyes, his faith took hold
on God, and the Sun of righteousness poured in His
rays upon the new-born soul. Nor was this light
evanescent. It was the incessant dawn of an eter
nal day. Prayer was almost momentary; spirit
ual communion was constant ; stated hours of
prayer were observed, and with his brother William
lie fasted every Friday. The genuineness of early
REV. ADAM CROOKS.
piety and the conversion of children is illustrated
in his conversion, which occurred at the age of
fourteen years, and might have been earlier ; his
convictions and knowledge being equal to it.
The early educational advantages of this promi
nent Christian worker, like that of many before
him, were only medium. Attending school during
the Winters, and working hard on his father s farm,
of which he had principal charge from unusually
early years, he became inured to hard-handed toil.
But he had an insatiable thirst for knowledge ; sel
dom in the house, if only for a few minutes, with
hands empty of a book, and often arising before
day to master some difficult lesson. When about
twenty years of age he spent two Summers at an
academy under the auspices of the Presbyterians,
some two miles from home.
Among his papers is found a report of his stand
ing while at this school.
" STUDIES.
Arithmetic, English Grammar, Geography, Watts on
the Mind/ and Ancient History.
Absent from Prayers Never,
lt " Recitation Never.
Application Excellent.
Improvement Excellent.
REMARKS.
Anything that may be said by us of Mr. Crooks, must be
of a commendatory character. His course, while with us^
has been that of a gentleman and of a Christian. His tal
ents are good, and his promises of usefulness are flattering.
JAS. MATHEWS )
A. SWANEY, j
10 THE LIFE OF
But having been a student through life, he has
mastered a thousand lessons to which many a col
legian has failed to give his attention. The " di
vine desire to know" will convert field, or forest,
or lake, or landscape, or island, or ocean, or conti
nent into a university.
He united with the Methodist Protestant Church,
of which his parents were members, while his
brother William joined the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He was much the youngest of any in the
Church, yet willing thus early to walk alone, so
long as it appeared to be the path of duty. Always
generous toward other denominations, and willing
to point sinners to the Cross at any altar where
Christ appeared, he attended religious meetings,
far and near, irrespective of denominations. He
deeply deplored the want of spirituality among his
own people.
When about sixteen years of age, he deeply felt
the need of a more thorough Christian experience.
He was greatly profited by reading the " Life of
William Carvosso," and sought, with ceaseless anxi
ety, the blessing of entire sanctification. He sought
it as distinctly as justification. He trusted fully in
Jesus as a Savior from all taint of, and tendency to
sin, and realized the speechless joy of complete sal
vation. This, like conversion, was effected when
alone, and free from the pressure of external ex
citement.
Convinced of the complicity of the Methodist
Protestant Church with chattel slavery, it ceased to
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 11
be a congenial home to one who had nothing ia
view but God and his glory, and man s well-being,
The heart longed for an opportunity to free itself
by change of church-relationship. This opportuni
ty was presented when the venerated Edward Smith
organized a Wesleyan Methodist Church in his na
tive village, July 25th, 1843. That day Brother
Crooks was elected class-leader. This change of
church-home, and open antagonism to slavery, no
perils nor privations ever caused him to regret.
EARLY MINISTRY.
His call to the Gospel ministry was an ever-liv
ing and ineffaceable conviction. Yet it greatly
distressed his mind : First, by fears that it was
a fire of his own kindling. Second, by an oppres
sive sense of his own incapacity ; hence, for years,
it was the subject of earnest solicitude and prayer.
These embarrassments were held in abeyance by
the firm purpose to do every duty at whatever cost,
and the assurance that God would call to no duty
in which he would not, in some way, supply all de
ficiencies. But his soul found complete rest only
in the settled purpose to await and cheerfully con
form to the opening of God s providence. And
this became the key to his entire subsequent life :
to, in all things follow the united leadings of God s
providence, Spirit and Word.
The 4th of May, 1844, being just twenty years of
12 THE LIFE OF
age, he accepted license to exhort. Under this,
however, he always took a text and preached, as
systematized thought was more natural and easy to
his type of mind.
August, 1845, he joined the Allegheny Confer
ence, and went as junior preacher to the Erie cir
cuit. Here came a trial to his Christian fidelity.
The headquarters of the Erie circuit was Erie city.
There was not a white member in the Church, and
this feeble colored Church was the only one on this
circuit of two preachers. The prospect was forbid
ding, indeed. The first Sabbath morning in Erie
made a deep impression. Thoughts of " Sweet
home," and pleasant social position there, and of
the intense prejudice against any white man, whose
motives, however Christ-like, showed practical
sympathy for the then hated colored race. A pain
ful sense of isolation caused tears unbidden to flow-
But thoughts of Jesus th mockings, scourging
and cast-off purple, and forsaken in that dreadful
" hour of the powers of darkness," dried them all
away.
He found them very poor many of them fugi
tives from slavery, and very ignorant. He consent
ed to become one of them, to lift them up. He es
tablished a night-school, for their instruction was
earnest in arousing their ambition to become in
telligent as well as good. They were very grate
ful, and thought they never before had found such
a friend. His stay among them was brief, as at the
expiration of six weeks he was called to Allegheny
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 13
City, to labor in concert with his brother William,
then in the second year of his ministry, boarding
with Rev. B. Longhead, who long has been a mem
ber of the Allegheny Conference. This became a
pleasant and profitable year.
On the following year he went as junior preacher
to the Zanesville circuit, in company with Rev. G.
Richey, preacher in charge, and now President of
the Central Ohio Conference.
Brother Richey, in a funeral discourse preached
at Leesville, the home of his boyhood and youth,
says : " He was rny co-laborer on the Zanesville
circuit. My house, during that year, was his prin
cipal home. I knew him well and loved him much.
Indeed, it was only necessary to know him well in
order to love him. He was not only an amiable
Christian, but an affable gentleman. He seemed to
possess the wisdom of the serpent, and harmless-
ness of the dove. In morals he had the innocence
of the lamb, and the courage of the lion. This year
his brother in the flesh, in the Lord, and in the
ministry William loved more than life itself, was
called from earth to heaven.
CALL TO THE SOUTH.
"The Allegheny Conference, held at Mesopota
mia, Ohio, September, 1847, received an urgent
letter from North Carolina, asking for a minister-
Every eye seemed to turn to Brother Crooks as the
14 THE LIFE OF
man for that place. After a season of devout, earn
est, silent prayer, in which the entire Conference
engaged, Brother Crooks arose his cheeks pale as
marble and said, I will go, sustained by your
prayers. In the name of my Savior I wilt go to
North Carolina. "
He has often said, " The question presented
itself to me, can you give your life for the cause ?
I felt that I could, and went." He gave his life
when he consented to go.
He was ordained Elder at that Conference, Sep
tember 21st, one year in advance of the rules, in
order to fit him for the work on his mission. His
parchment is signed, " T. Guy, President of Con
ference."
Four years of toil, self-sacrifice, peril and success
ensued. By the close of the first year, an opening
in Grayson County, Virginia, called for another
man. Jarvis C. Bacon responded. The work ex
tended both in Virginia and North Carolina. New
doors opened, calls to " Come over and help us/
multiplied, arid at the expiration of the second year,
Jesse McBride took the field already opened, leav
ing Brother Crooks to go more deeply " into the
regions beyond." The history of these years will
be given in extracts from letters to the Wesleyan,
written on that moral battle-field.
More fitting than anything we can present are
the following pen pictures drawn by himself, of his
journey south, and his labors amid the scenes of
slavery with its Bibles and whips and slave-pens.
REV. ADAM BROOKS. 15
Circumstances not unfrequently contribute large
ly in rendering recorded events interesting. The
circumstance of my appointed field of labor being
in a slave-holding State, may give importance to a
few notes by the way. It would be in vain to es
say to give a description of the deep emotions that
thrill the soul when taking the parting hand of an
affectionate father, a kind mother, dear brothers
and sisters, and friends beloved; when bidding
adieu to the hills, valleys, and streamlets, that were
the associate of one s juvenile sports, and childish
perambulations; the most vivid imagination and
nervous language, are utterly inadequate to the
task. Such reflections as these are very natural.
Am I looking upon these people the last time ?
Shall I ever again meet a father s smile, or have the
seal of maternal affection stamped on my cheek?
May J ever again drink the sweet waters which
flow in the channel of the society of those endear
ed by the tender ties of consanguinity ? With
these peculiar feelings and cogitations, on the
morning of the 1st of October, I turned my face
to go to the far South, to pronounce that Gospel
which proclaims liberty to the captive, and the open
ing of the prisons to them that are bound.
I must needs go through Zanesville for my books
and clothes, (it being my former field of labor.)
On Saturday evening I arrived at Zanesville,
was kindly received by brother J. and family. On
Sabbath evening spoke a short time from viiith chap,
ter, 9th verse, second Corinthians. In improving
16 THE LIFE OF
the subject, I tried to show that Christ is our ex
ample we must have His spirit if we would be
His it is a spirit to labor, suffer, for the good of
mailj we must be willing to sacrifice property ; He
became poor. Reputation, He made Himself of no
reputation ; and person, He was wounded, bruised?
chastised, and all for man, yea, for His enemies.
He suffered patiently, suffered not unnecessarily,
but in harmony with the will of His Father. Those
who do not imitate Him are riot Christians, whether
individuals or organizations. Dear reader, how
much are you willing to sacrifice ? How much have
you suffered in property, reputation or person, for
the good of your race ? Wherein have you denied
yourself daily ? of what to-day ?
I was detained till Thursday, waiting for a boat
As none came, I mounted the stage on Friday morn
ing for M:, a town at the juncture of the Muskingum
and Ohio rivers, sixty miles below Zanesville, The
day was wet, cold and gloomy, and the road
rough. But as it followed the river, a person hav
ing large individuality, would delight himself in ob
serving the flowing river ; its little islands, adorned
with the waving willow ; the fading foliage bedeck
ing its bank; together with the craggy hills, the
rolling forest, the rich fields and green meadows,
which variegate every succeeding prospect, Who
can witness such a scenery and not mark the foot
steps of the power, wisdom and goodness, of Him
who bridles the waters, plows their channels, and
determines their courses ?
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 17
I arrived at M. about 9 o clock, P. M., and not
wishing to travel on Sabbath morning, I sought out
the residence of Brother P., where I was made very
welcome, and was able to feel at home, Brother
P. is an efficient agent in the underground railroad.
M. is the oldest town in* Ohio ; it is beautifully situ
ated, built (in some respects) after the eastern style.
There are a great many anti-slavery Methodists in
this place, but they do not seem to see the incon
gruity of coming out of a pro-slavery political
party, and remaining in fellowship with a pro-
slavery Church. The Methodist Episcopal friends
had their Quarterly Meeting on Saturday morning
at 10 o clock. M. T. Young, Presiding Elder,
preached from Matthew xiv:23. Subject, Private
Prayer. In descanting on what we should pray for,
he named the prosperity of" the Church. On this
point he manifested great earnestness, referred them
to the past prosperous condition of the M. E.
Church, compared it to the stone of prophesy cut
out of the mountain, it had rolled on gloriously.
That evening I had the happiness to see Ephraim
Cutler, the only man living who helped to frame the
Constitution of Ohio, He claims the honor of mak
ing it a free State ; he sat up a whole night to frame
arguments to accomplish that object. Honor to his
life ! When dead, peace to his ashes !
Sabbath, 11 o clock, A. M., preached in town hall
of Harmer, (H. is on the other side of the Musk-
ingnm from M.,) from Matthew vi: 9. After meet
ing, a Mr. S., Presbyterian, accosting me, said I
18 THE LIFE OF
must have the Methodist house that evening, It
was obtained for 4 P. M. I spoke from Matthew
vi:10. Here I tried to make it appear that the
means ordained by Heaven for the establishment of
Christ s kingdom were, the preaching of the Gos
pel, the whole Gospel, the practice of every duty,
the right and faithful exercise of discipline, by
which every sinner, of whatever kind, would be kept
out of the pale of the Church ; and those organiza
tions which do not use those means cannot effect the
object for which they organize. This was my last
Sabbath in Ohio. I then waited (though very im
patiently) for a boat, which did not come until
Tuesday morning, 11 o clock. In a very few min
utes I was sailing down the beautiful Ohio. The
day was wet and cold, a great many passengers,
and an amount of vanity displayed, though I was
pleased by the order observed.
On Tuesday night we were landed on the Vir
ginia shores, at the mouth of the Great Kanahwa ;
here again we were detained until Thursday morn
ing for a boat to go to C., sixty miles up this rapid
river.
Thursday night got to C. in time to give our
selves to the faithful keeping of Morpheus, at
about 1 o clock, A. M.
Friday took stage for Lewisburgh, one hundred
miles from C. After riding about thirty miles over
a good road we found ourselves at the base of the
Green Briar Mountain. The prospect now be
comes indescribably romantic. The traveler seems
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 19
to be environed at every point of the compass, by
great piles of earth, covered with pines, which lift
their hundred arms on high, as though they would
grasp the clouds, or sweep the sky. The complete
symmetry with which these piles are formed, com
ing to a peak with the order of a pyramid, will
strike the admiration of every beholder. I would
advise every one who travels this road to visit the
Hawk s Nest, a precipice of rock piled on rock, to
the height of nine hundred feet. Here you will
fancy yourself at the jumping off place. To look
down you seem to be lifted far above the earth, the
head reels. The country is under very poor
cultivation, and the minds of the inhabitants are
no better. An old revolutionary soldier, bend
ing beneath the weight of time, and trembling
with age, got in to ride a few miles; he stated
that they are beginning to raise wheat. (They
formerly lived on bear s meat, and pone.) I
remarked to the old gentleman, it was a long
road from C. to L., one hundred miles, without
any towns or villages; he replied, there was no
place to put them. We lodged a few hours fifty
miles from C., and by 1 o clock, A. M., was in the
stage again.
To-day, Saturday, feelings of deep sorrow, min
gled with emotions of profound indignation, swell
my bosom, while surveying the fallen and corrupt
state of the Churches of our land, while I see them
chattelizing humanity, and driving the iron chariot
of oppression over her breast, while its massive
20 THE LIFE OF
wheels squeeze hissing streams of blood from the
tender cords of her great heart.
Saturday evening arrived at L., where we spent
the Sabbath. In the morning I attended meeting
at the Methodist Episcopal Church ; listened to
a sermon from John 1st chapter, 38th verse.
The body of the discourse was very well propor
tioned, but if I am a judge, the body was all there
was of it ; I do not think it had any soul.
Monday morning, 1 o clock, took stage for Fin-
castle. Our road was over the Allegheny ridge of
mountains. |The scenery was magnificently sublime.
The air is highly salubrious, and the mountaineers
are the Goliah s of the land. We had a few hours
.rest, about 12 o clock mounted the stage for Lynch-
burgh. We crossed the range called the Blue
Ridge, before day ; here the sun rose on us in Old
Virginia. The peaks of Otter on the Blue Ridge,
are the highest of the Allegheny; being four
thousand, two hundred and sixty feet high. A
circumstance transpired here worthy of note. A
colored woman was put in the stage at F., who
said she was on her way to L., a town about thirty
miles from F. On being interrogated, she "in
formed us that she had been sold to a negro trader
in L., her former master lived in F. She was
leaving a husband, a mother, brothers and sisters?,
and the grave of a child. Are not such acts of
cruelty enough to make us " sick of humanity, and
blush to know ourselves men." She was a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he, the
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 21
man who sold her, of the Episcopalian Christians
(by profession) selling God s own image, the pur
chase of the Savior s death, and the temple of the
Holy Ghost, as beasts in market. Oh Shame,
where is thy blush ! I asked her if she did not
mourn the loss of her babe ! and the emphasis with
which she responded No ! made my blood run
cold. She continued, I am glad it is gone, for it
is a stranger to my sorrows.
What a horrible comment, this, upon the cruel
ties of slavery. The slave-mother s joy begins not
like that of other mothers ; " when a man is born
into the world;" but when her infant is hurried
out of existence, and its first faint cry is hushed in
the silence of death! Why this perversion of
nature ? Ah ! that mother knows the agonies, the
torments, the wasting woes of a life of slavery, and
by the bowels of a mother s love, and the yearn
ings of a mother s pity ; she rejoices to know her
babe shall never experience the same.
But will God be avenged on such a nation as
this ? The withering displeasure of heaven can be
seen standing out in bold relief upon the whole
face of the country. Their soil is rendered sterile
by the burning foot of slavery. Their fields are
converted into forests; their fences, their houses and
their barns, are dilapidated, and the very air
poisoned with the effluvia from the mangled body
of humanity which lies bleeding on every planta
tion. In a word, slavery, like the mighty incubus,
standing with one foot on the neck of the master,
22 THE LIFE OF
a,nd the other on that of the slave, crushes them
physically, intellectually and morally into the very
earth, and leaves them leaves them, did I say ?
No ! keeps them there struggling for life.
The^evening of October 23d, I found myself at
Indiana, having terminated a fatiguing journey of
six hundred and fifty miles. I rested till Sabbath j
in the evening, preached in the Methodist Episco
pal house; I tried to enforce the doctrine of
universal love and the duty of doing unto others
as we would have them do to us, without reference
to class, color or condition, etc. Some of them
said " That was just what they always believed.
There is much more anti-slavery sentiment in this
part of North Carolina than I had supposed.
This is owing, in a great measure, to the influence
of the society of Friends. It is said the treatment
of the slaves is much modified by their presence ;
and as they are numerous in this community,
slavery is seen in its mildest form. It is some
what amusing too, that I am taken for a Quaker,
go wherever I will. I attended their meeting
Sabbath morning, after my arrival, and even the
Friends themselves, thought I was one. After
hearing me preach in the Methodist Episcopal
house, some of them asked if I was not a Friend.
I went to Toledo last week, lectured on temper
ance, and there, again. I was thought to be a
Quaker. This, I suppose, is owing some to the
doctrine I inculcate, and partly to my plain coat.
Upon the whole, the prospect is pretty encourag.
EEV. ADAM CROOKS. 23
ing; the hearts of many are open to receive the
truth ; and by the help of God s grace, I mean to
sow the seed of the word, praying that the great
head of the Church may give a large increase.
And now, at the commencement of my labors, let
me call upon the whole Church, and every lover of
God, and friend of man, to send up their earnest,
faithful, importunate and prevailing prayers, that
Heaven would smile propitiously upon the cause in
North Carolina ; the good of our common Christi.
anity and common country ; the sacred demands of
the trembling, weeping, bleeding, perishing slave,
and the high and holy claims of the Holy One
require it; yea, and future posterity will say,
Amen.
It is not a little interesting, and amusing, to
trace the rise and progress of the Church, in our
state. Dr. Stanton, a Quaker, brought into this
country some pamphlets, containing the address
delivered by brother E. Smith, in the Sixth
Presbyterian Church, in Cincinnati, March 19?
1843, from Rom. xiii, 10, two thousand of which,
were printed at the expense of the Society of
Friends. The printer neglecting to state the office
in which it was printed, Mr. C., the Methodist
Episcopal preacher then traveling the Guilford
Circuit, (who was silenced by a Conference, held
at G. a few weeks ago,) faithfully charged his
hearers not to read them, or even suffer them to
come into their houses. He stated they contained
no truth were a mass of pernicious errors were
24 THE LIFE OF
anonymous, and that it was not known where they
were printed, etc. But alas ! for him that he was
not a Pope, for then would his Bull, have been
Law. Nor would he have resuscitated these per.
nicious errors, and buried himself in the tomb he
intended for them. What he said served to excite
the curiosity of his hearers, which led many of
them to procure the interdicted pamphlet, before
they went home. They were read with avidity,
and circulated with industry. The result was,
they aroused the public mind with all the potency
of truth, and many who had defended Slavery from
the Bible, changed their language, and said, "No
Slaveholder can be a Christian I" Brother Smith
said, at Conference, he wished himself young, that
he might go to N. C., but he was here several
years before me, through the agency of his address.
The next circumstance leading the way to
secession here, was the division of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. The delegate from N. C., to
the Southern Convention, was instructed to oppose
a split, but he was influenced by the members of
said Convention, to vote with the South, so that
the N. C. Conference was voted into the southern
division, contrary to her wish, and instructions. I
have been told the feelings of this Conference were
so exasperated, that it refused to submit, and could
not hold its succeeding session. Be that as it may,
one thing is certain, it tamely consented for Bishop
Andrew to preside at its last session. But when
the division took place, the cherished hopes of
REV ADAM CROOKS. 25
many, that the Methodist Episcopal Church would
eventually free herself of the sin of making mer
chandise " of slaves, and souls of men/ were
completely blasted. Their first expedient was, to
join the Northern Division, but soon found it im
practicable. They then resolved, (some of those
many,) to form a third Church, which they did, and
called it the Free Methodist Church.
" Up to this time, they had no knowledge of the
existence of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection.
By some unknown agency, (perhaps an angel of
mercy,) they became apprised of it, sent for our
Discipline, met in Convention, read, approved,
and adopted it, and at their request, came under
the supervision of the Allegheny Conference.
Since then, they, like an ocean rock, have stood
unmoved, while the mighty waves of opposition
have spent their furious power, in vainly essaying
to overwhelm them ; and blessed be God, they still
stand, or rather move forward, despite of all that
would oppose. On my arrival, the cry of &lt; amal.
gamation, nigger-thief, abolition, which are synon-
omous terms here, went careering in frantic alarm
through the entire community ; but that has measur
ably subsided. On the svhole I cannot complain,
other churches have been pretty courteous, in
opening their pulpits, especially the Protestant
Methodist. Calls for me to preach are numerous -
Congregations generally large. I seldom preach
without denouncing the peculiar institution; mostly
I have slave-holders to hear. We held our first
26 THE LIFE OF
quarterly meeting on the third Saturday and Sab
bath in December; congregations full, and very
attentive. Sabbath morning at 11 o clock we had a
meeting, weeping and rejoicing time. It was the
first communion held by the Wesleyans in North
Carolina. The Lord strengthened and comforted
our hearts.
" Last Sabbath I read our general rules, to a
large and deeply attentive concourse ; indeed it was
affecting to witness the profound interest with
which young and old stood and listened for near
two hours j 1 say stood, for there was room for
only about half of the congregation in the house ;
so that I was under the necessity of standing in
the door to be heard by those out as well as inside
the house. When I read our rules on slavery,
I pledged to prove before I took my seat that
the Wesleyans occupy the platform erected by
primitive Methodists, on the subject of slavery,
viz. : that they made slaveholding a test of member
ship. To prove which I read from Robert Emeroy s
History of Discipline, stating the authority I gave
was written by a Methodist Episcopal hand, printed
on a Methodist Episcopal press, published under
Methodist Episcopal authority, and issued from
a Methodist Episcopal Book-room. After having
shown from that, the action of the Church, before,
at, and after, its origination, I claimed to have
redeemed my pledge, with the clearness of demon
stration, and if the countenance is to be taken as
an index to the mind, I think the congregation was
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 27
ready to give a verdict in our favor. We have
subscriptions for the erection of three houses of
worship ; the parcels of ground on which they are
to stand, are donated, and I think the prospects
for success encouraging. It is the opinion of some
of the most intelligent men of North Carolina that
she will be a free State before many years ; and
that in the event of a dissolution of the Union,
North Carolina will go with the North. The great
spirit of Liberty is beginning to breathe upon the
people. If her hosts but rally under her standard,
inspired by a generous patriotism and noble
philanthropy, resolved with the Spartan soldier, to
return l with our shields, or upon them/ the day is
not far distant, when, under the smiles of the God
of Liberty, her fair tree will shoot its top to the
sun, and cast its cooling shades over the oppressed
of every land. We believe the death warrant of
American slavery is sealed in heaven, and the
angel of mercy commissioned to execute it speed-
iiy-
"I think I never enjoyed more deep and constant
communion with my Savior than since I came to
North Carolina. &lt; Jesus all the day long is my
joy and my song. My daily prayer is, &lt; 0, Lord,
revive thy work. I long to see the pillar of
divine glory rise, and the ark, and people of the
covenant move forward. May the Lord speed the
day.
28 THE LIFE OP
DEDICATION OF THE FIRST WESLEYAN METH
ODIST CHURCH IN NORTH CAROLINA.
" With grateful emotions, I take my pen to give
the readers of your excellent sheet, a scatement of
the dedication of the first Wesleyiui Methodist
Church in North Carolina, with a brief history of
our success. Our Second Quarterly Meeting, which
commenced the third Saturday in March, was held
in a new house erected for the worship of Almighty
God, through whose sovereign clemency, and the
liberality of the friends of God and Man, in the
community, it was completed. The dedicatory
discourse was pronounced from 1st Tim. iii: 15.
The use made of the text was, to show The office of
the Church, viz. first, to support as a pillar,
secondly, to elevate, and thirdly, in times of trial,
to stay, IHE TRUTH. This is to be done, first, by
not shunning to declare the whole counsel of God,
secondly, by the practice of all Christian duty,
thirdly, by i\\Q faithful execution of Discipline, and
lastly, if need be, meekly and patiently suffering,
for so doing.
" The position was taken, that an ecclesiastical
organization, not maintaining the whole truth, must
support some error, there being no neutral ground
on any moral question. * He that is not /or, is
against me. He that gathereth not with me,
scattereth abroad/ said Jesus. From all this, the
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 29
following conclusion is unavoidable : That it is the
imperative duty of Christians^ to disconnect themselves
from corrupt Churches ! To be in connection with
such a Church, is to support it, to support it is to
support error ; for IT is the pillar and stay of error:
hence, the solemn command from Heaven contained
in Rev. xviii : 4.
" The Quarterly Conference gave me leave to vis
it Virginia, some time this Summer, as I received a
call from the mother of Presidents to that effect.
Sabbath, I spoke to a large, attentive, and deeply
affected concourse, from Isaiah xxv, 1 : I am told
it had the happy effect of killing much prejudice.
We were favored with the acceptable labors of our
worthy brother, D. Wilson. He is one of the
Spartan-like band, who dared to brave the popular
current, and boldly fling the Wesleyan flag to the
breeze, and manfully maintain its claims. Brother
W. preached on Sabbath night, when the Lord
graciously poured out His Spirit and dedicated
the house, by filling it with His glory, and one
professed to find peace. The meeting was pro
tracted ten days. I have no recollection of having
witnessed such displays of the virtue of love divine?
to subdue the carnal mind. An incident occurred
on Wednesday, worthy of note. A woman, who
had belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church,
a number of years, became so deeply convicted at
home, she had to quit work sent for her neigh,
bors to pray for her said she had been trying,
for a long time, to get to Heaven in her own way;
30 THE LIFE OF
but saw she could not succeed. She came to meet
ing that night, and as I arose to preach, her feelings
so completely overcame her, that without regard
to the order of the meeting, she arose and made
her way to the altar. I invited the mourners for-
ward, stating the Lord would not let me preach
that night. The house and surrounding country
was soon rendered vocal with the cries of seekers,
and the shouts of saints. During the meeting?
twelve touched by faith, the sceptre of mercy and
were at peace. The same number joined. nine
from the world, two from the Primitive Methodists;
and one from the Episcopal Methodists. All glory
to Him whose wing of love overshadowed us.
" On last Sabbath I formed a class of twelve
members in E. county, which promises an abundant
increase. Father Briles, who has been a standard-
bearer in the Methodist Episcopal Church for
about forty years, said, we must build a large
church, oh ! I feel such an interest I could almost
build it myself. An old gentleman, who had seen
me but once, rode ten miles to hear me preach,
gave us his name. I asked him if he enjoyed the
comforts of religion, he answered satisfactorily.
Are you coming from another church ? I inquired.
No, said he, 1 1 never could join in consequence
of war and slavery ! There has been thirty-two
accessions this year. We have raised the walls of
a second church. It is not yet covered. Blessed
be Israel s Keeper, while watering others, I have
felt the refreshing showers of grace in my own
RET. ADAM CROOKS. 31
soul. 1 want to be more and more given up to
Ood, more and more conformed to his likeness
every day. The opposition is great, but He that
is for us, is greater than all that can be against us.
He that binds the mighty deep with sand, saying
thus far shalt thou come, and here shall thy proud
waves be stayed, has decreed that the wrath of
man shall praise him, and the remainder of that
wrath he will restrain. I would earnestly call oa
the readers of this, to join with me in praying for
our enemies, and blessing those who curse us,
remembering the prayer that went up from the
cross, Father forgive, they know not what they do,
I subscribe myself, the servant of God, and friend
of Man,
OPPOSITION.
" I need not say that the opposition to my course
is great. My image was tarred and feathered in
this town. [Jamestown.] I saw it the next day
as I rode by the place. It was leaning up against
the fence. Some of my friends are beginning to
tremble for my personal safety but my trust is in
the Friend of the poor, the Deliverer of the op
pressed.
" The law is very strict with regard to the circu
lation of papers, etc. Efforts have been made to
put those laws into execution on me, but failed,,
Meeting-houses are generally closed against me&gt;
unless it is the Friend s, I have received upwards
32 THE LIFE OF
of fifty members. We now number between nine
ty and one hundred. I expect to visit Grayson
county, Va., in a few weeks.
" I will tell you a little about the pious slave
holders. One man, a member of the Presbyterian
Church, said he would shoot his slaves before they
should be free. (See how these Christians (?)
love SLAVERY.) A Methodist preacher tied up his
slave, whipped him a while, and then prayed for
him ; then whipped and prayed for him, whipping
and praying alternately. (His name is Lumsden.)
Another by the name of St. Clair took his wife and
child with him around his circuit, and his slave
girl must frequently run through the mud and cold
barefoot, in the Winter. Another instance of cru
elty : A slave-trader was passing through this
county last Winter with a drove of negroes. One
of them, (a man,) got an axe and cut his hand ;
several licks drove the axe through it, thus ren.
dering it useless, doubtless, for ever. For this he
was beaten and kicked without mercy. These
things transpire where slavery exists in its mildest
form, and if this is its little finger, what are its
untold horrors ? It seems to me I hate slavery
more every day.
" Let the note of l The Clarion 1 wax louder and
louder ; and as the walls of Jericho fell by the sound
ing of rams horns, so by the proclamation of the
truth lay the walls of slavery to their foundations^
"As I write on business, I would say for the
satisfaction of our Zioiij and in Eeform generally,
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 33
that the state of our work, in these parts, is eru
couraging. Our Third Quarterly Meeting was
held last Saturday and Sabbath. We had a feast
of fat things. Two joined. One was Wm. An
derson, a licensed preacher from the Primitive
Methodists, the other from the Methodist Episco
pal Church. The meeting was held at Flint Hill
School-house, where a Church of twenty-three
members has been recently formed, and trustees
elected prospectively. I think the circuit is in
the most prosperous condition it has experienced
since its formation. We number about one hun
dred members, fifty-eight of whom have united this
year. The harvest is great, but the laborers are
few. My exertions have been more than my
physical abilities justify, and yet calls for service
are multiplying. Some think there is a field for
two or three active men.
" I propose visiting Virginia next week, and may,
perhaps, stay a month. If I succeed in forming a
circuit, or mission, in that part, (Grayson county,)
of the Old Dominion, it will greatly advance the
cause here, by having two fields sufficiently adja
cent, to enable the preachers to visit and assist
each other in holding meetings, &c.
VISIT TO VIRGINIA.
On the morning of the 17th of June, I set out to
plant the standard of reform, on the tops of the moun
tains of Grayson County, Virginia. It is one hun-
2*
34 THE LIFE OF
drcd miles from this. The journey was somewhat
lonely, having no company, but it is good at times
to be alone. I passed at the base of Mount Ararat,
or the pilot mountain. This is North Carolina s
greatest natural curiosity. It is not attached to
any chain of mountains is near a mile in height,
and on its brow, is a stupendous rock, rising near
ly perpendicular to the height of three hundred
feet. It is a matter of surprise to look to the tops
of the loftiest peaks which seem to touch the sky)
and find them under cultivation. The daring
mountaineer builds his house where the thunder s
fiery bolt leaps in sportive vengeance from brow to
brow. The evening of the next day found me com
fortably seated in the very hospitable residence of
Isaac Moore. I need scarcely say the sparkling
eye, beaming countenance, and warm embrace of
the old veteran for truth, almost made me forget
the fatigue of my journey. I here obtained the fol
lowing information, viz : When the question of the
division of the Methodist Episcopal Church was
pending, the preacher in charge of Grayson Circuit
gave the members liberty to vote to which part,
North or South, they wished to belong. The Pre
siding Elder on hearing this, and that many were
opposed to the separation, issued his lull interdict
ing such procedure, thereby disfranchising those
who had not voted. I am not sure that such a
course is in strict accordance with &lt; Neither be ye
lords over God s heritage. It produced a shock
from which many never recovered.
&EV. ADAM CROOKS. 36
" A goodly number believing that slavery was the
great wedge that split the Church, resolved to be
disconnected from all Church organization until
they found one free from the wedge of gold and
Babylonish garment. The majority of the Hope-
well Church took this stand. Here I organized a
Wesleyan Church, first numbering eight members*
During the next week, there were six accessions ; so
that when I left it numbered fourteen members,
one of whom, (Isaac Moore) is an Elder. During
my stay which was sixteen days, the spirit of the
Lord was poured upon us, the Church was revived,
and six professed to have found peace in believing*
To God be all the praise.
"I am much pleased with this people. Their
hearts, houses, and purses are open. Indeed, their
kindness borders on enthusiasm. But the best of
all is, they are full of faith and the Holy Ghost
A preacher is asked for the coming year. This
will be a pleasant field in which to operate. My
faith is strong that a glorious harvest may be reaped
from these mountains.
" We held our fourth Quarterly Meeting, com
mencing on the fourth Saturday of July. I was un
der the necessity of leaving on the Tuesday morning
following. At that time five were hopefully convert
ed, and twenty-one had joined : ten from the world,
and eleven from other Churches. Bless God, the
bright rainbow of promise still spans our horizon.
At the commencement of the year, there were four
Churches, and forty members in North Carolina.
36 THE LIFE OF
At present there are eight Churches ; and including
Virginia, one hundred and forty members. We
have an increase of one hundred. I calculated when
I came, if we held our own the first year, we would
do well; but instead of the waves of opposition
beating us back, the Lord has more than trebled
our number. May we not join with the Psalmist ?
and say, By this I know that thou favorest us, be
cause our enemies do not triumph over us.
" As you are reappointed to the editorship of our
Church organ, and I to my previous field in Caroli
na, I am happy in the anticipation of extending my
acquaintance with you as an editor; and while I re
turn you my hearty thanks, for former indulgence
extended to a young correspondent, I would beg
the continuance in future of the same indulgence
promising to aim at improvement.
"Brother Bacon and myself left our friends on the
morning of the 2nd of October, to go to our re
spective fields ; his, in Grayson County, Virginia,
mine in Guilford, North Carolina. We came by pri
vate conveyance, and found it much more pleas
ant and less expensive than by public ; although
not so expeditious. After having contended
against hills, mountains and distances for fifteen
days, on the evening of the 17th of the above writ
ten month, we had the gratification of being seated
around the familiar hearth of the hospitable resi
dence of my good friend Richard Menderihall,
in Jamestown. The same evening we visited
our worthy brother John Sherwood, (also of
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 37
Jamestown,) and found him over his press, laud
ably employed in printing Free-soil Tickets. The
folio wirg Saturday, we commenced our first Quar
terly Meeting (in the first Wesleyan Methodist
church built in the State,) and protracted it six
days. The congregations were large and deeply
attentive. Brother Bacon preached with great
power and acceptability. While breaking the
bread of life to others, his own soul feasted on the
rich blessings of the Gospel. During the progress
of the meeting, the spirit of the Lord was gracious.
ly poured upon the people ; ten professed to obtain
peace in believing, and seven joined. On the next
Saturday, we proceeded to Sandy Ridge. Here we
held a few days meeting, at which we were favored
with the presence and labors of our good brother
Arnos Moore, from Virginia. The meeting resulted
in the hopeful conversion of five, and addition of
seven to the Church. To God be all the glory. In
a sermon preached on Monday from John xv : 5,
" For without me ye can do nothing," Brother Ba
con, in a very lucid light, showed up the grand in
consistency in which those involve themselves who
say of a practice it is sinful, and yet claim that it is
proper to acknowledge the Christian character of
persons living in the habitual indulgence of that
sinful practice. It was a most happy effort ; which
with his other labors of love here, will not be soon
forgotten by us. While he was here, which was
thirteen days, he delivered fourteen sermons which
were crowned with fifteen conversions and fourteen
38 THE LIFE OF
accessions. I think the prospects for our future sue*
cess good ; arid that we may bless Q od and take
courage."
THE CAMP-MEETING.
" With grateful emotions, I lift my pen to in
form the friends of Zion of what great things the
Lord has done for us, that we may be thankfully
glad. In harmony with the expressed wishes of
our third Quarterly Conference, we appointed a
Camp-meeting to be held at Union Meeting House,
Ghiilford County, in conjunction with our fourth
Quarterly Meeting.
"In a little time there appeared many prophets in
the land, who were wroth, and mocked the Wesley*
ans, saying, What do these feeble Wesleyans?
Will they fortify themselves ? Will they sacrifice ?
Will they make an end in a day ? Even that which
they build if a fox go up, he shall even break down
their stone wall.
"But we prayed to our God, (for we were de-
gpised) and built our tents, and all the tents were
formed together unto the half thereof, for the peo
ple had a mind to work. Our meeting was to
commence on Friday evening, 10th of August, at
candle-lighting. By sundown, Brothers J. C. Bacon,
Amos Moore, from Virginia, and myself arrived at
the place of our feast of Tabernacles ; found a good
ly number assembled for Divine worship. Brother
Bacon preached to an attentive and deeply alfected
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 39
congregation. Saturday 11, A. M., 1 tried to
preach on the subject of prayer. At the conclusion
the congregation, by rising to their feet, pledged to
pray for a glorious revival during the meeting.
" Five, P. M., the rules for the government of the
Meeting were read, and the entire congregation,
and all succeeding ones, appointed a committee to
see that they were strictly observed; (and I must
give honor to whom honor is due.) So faithful
were they in the discharge of their official duties
that I had no cause to reprove an individual during
the whole meeting. This was most agreeable. At
candle light, Brother Bacon delivered a solemn dis
course from 2nd Peter, iii and 9, l The Lord is
not slack, &c., to a serious congregation, after
which the good work begun. A number came for.
ward for prayers, and some professed to obtain mer
cy in believing. The meeting increased in interest
as it progressed. More or less present for prayers
every opportunity. The Angel of Conviction and
voice of pardon went from the stand to the tents,
from the tents to the houses, and from the houses to
the fields and gold mines. AVhat was it but heaven
in miniature ? for the voices of old and young, male
and female, fathers and mothers, husbands and
wives, parents and children, neighbors and friends,
to go up ia bursts of hallelujah to God and the
Lamb, Sweet was our camp-meeting, which lasted
from the evening of the 10th till the morning of the
20th inst., during which about one hundred and fif
ty professed to be converted and seventy-six joined.
40 THE LIFE OP
This was the best meeting I have ever attended. It
was characterized throughout by large and atten
tive congregations, by far the best order I have ever
seen at camp-meetings, deep and general convic
tions and clear and numerous conversions. The
conclusion was awfully impressive. A people about
to part who will not all meet again in time !
The congregation assembled at the stand. Brother
Bacon delivered a benedictary from Thessalo-
nians. Brother Moore followed in some feeling
appeals. The congregation in tears. The wri.
ter occupied a few minutes in returning his com
pliments to the audience for their good conduct
through the meeting, to brothers Bacon and Moore
for their attendance and labors at the meeting, and
thanks to God for the out-pouring of his Spirit on
the meeting, made allusion to Brother Bacon s trial
which was to come in a few days, requested the au
dience to acknowledge their obligations to the
brethren from Virginia, by promising to pray for
them, which they almost unanimously did, with
great feeling; then forming a procession, the
preachers in advance, marched around in front of
the tents, singing an appropriate hymn. The
preachers halted at a specified spot, and received
the hand of, and pronounced their blessing on all
and parted, to meet not again, till we pass the por
tals of death, when we hope to strike glad hands
and tune our harps to immortal songs, in the sweet
grove of heaven, no more to sigh nor shed a tear,
no more to suffer pain or fear, but sing anthems of
REV. ADAM CROOKS.
praise, and doxologies, glory to God and the Lamb.
Amen. It is reserved for the light of eternity and
disclosures of judgment alone, to reveal the good
done at the first Wesleyan Methodist Campmeeting,
held in North Carolina, but I think we may safely
conclude that the gospel has been preached, sinners
have been convicted, mourners have been comfort
ed, believers strengthened, the cause of reform ad
vanced prejudice crucified, (died a most ignomini
ous death,) Christ to some extent has seen of the tra
vail of his soul and is satisfied, pious intelligence
gratified, and God s name glorified. The cause has
been prosperous from its commencement. The in
crease of its membership the first year from forty
to one hundred and forty, including fourteen who
joined in Virginia last Fall, when brother Bacon
took charge of Grayson Circuit. It reduced the
Guilford Charge fourteen, leaving one hundred and
twenty-six, There has been an increase this year
of one hundred and forty-nine ; so that, at this time,
there are two hundred and seventy-five members on
Guilford Circuit. Brother Bacon s Charge, last
Fall numbered eighteen. It has increased to one
hundred and eleven ; so that the Wesleyans in the
South, two years ago, counted forty, all told, enjoy
ing the labors of one man the first, and but two the
second year, now number three hundred and eighty-
six, giving an increase of three hundred and forty-
six. What now becomes of the objection that we
can do no good in the South? Echo answers,
what ! And this is our infancy, while the Herods
42 THE LIFE OF
of the South have been trying to murder us.
Blessed be the Most High, the Wesleyan Ship still
bears up against wind and tide.
"I know I do not write with the feelings of a
proud boaster, or unkindness for such as oppose
our progress, but with sentiments of the greatest
respect for all men, and of the most profound grat
itude to God, the God in whom David trusted?
when he encountered Goliath of Gath. And I
write for the purpose of convincing our foes, that
they have judged us wrongly, and treated us ac
cordingly ; and of inspiring in our friends a confi
dence, which the correctness of our principles, the
rectitude of our procedure, the holiness of our
cause, and the certainty of its triumph, through the
omnipotence of truth, would warrant, and courage
in proportion to that confidence ; that they may
lift their standard anew, unfurl its bright banner
along the sky, with this glorious motto written in
blazing characters of Love, glowing on its ample
folds, l Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace,
and good will to man. That, under Jesus, the
Captain of our Salvation, we may travel to certain
victory, with the panoply of heaven to cover, and
glory imperishable to crown us."
TROUBLE.
"It is among the probabilities that the readers
of your luminous periodical begin to inquire,
What has become of our missionary at the
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 43
South? Is he dead? Has he left his post?
Why does he not write ? &c. He is yet at
his post. His reasons for not writing sooner
are part for want of matter, and part, perhaps,
from neglect. I will take liberty to say some
thing of Guilford Circuit, under the zealous
and very efficient labors of brother Me Bride.
It is, and has been, in a very prosperous state.
During this Conference year, quite a number
have professed to obtain peace in believing, and
seventy-four have joined the Church. The pros
pects for a rich harvest this year are flatter
ing. The heart and hands of its pastor are full of
hope and of work.
" A few words relative to the mission, and only
a few. As I accompanied brother Me Bride in
his first visit round the Circuit, I did not strike
out till the first of January. I have not as yet
organized any Clnrches but expect to soon.
There are six appointments which we will call
regular, and several incidental. The extremes
are about eighty miles apart.
"I am extending my operations Southward.
Numerous are the misrepresentations ; the opposi
tion is violent, and some threats are being made.
I will give you an instance : On the evening
of the llth instant I preached in Montgomery
county. After the benediction, a couple of notes
were given me. One signed by B. W. Simmons,
stated that the writer had just returned from
the courts of Montgomery and Stanly counties,
44 THE LIFE OP
and was requested to say to me by many citi
zens of those counties that should I attempt to
preach at or near Lane s Chapel, in Montgome
ry county, my person would be in danger, as
it was understood in those counties that I am
an Abolitionist and Free-soiler. The other, written
by the same hand and signed "Many Citizens
of the counties of Montgomery and Stanly," reads
as follows :
REV. MR. CROOKS : Sir
u I have heard that you are out preaching the True
Wesleyan doctrines. I doubt it not, though am fully im-
formed that you are acting behind the curtain a l wolf in
sheep s clothing" that you are preying upon the minds of
the weak and innocent, and inducing them to believe that
slave- holding is not only an oppression to the slaves, but to
all those who do not hold slaves. The slaves hereabout
are in much better condition than their masters or other
citizens. Your doctrine, if carried out, would bring down
vengeance upon the heads of your followers by amalgama
tion and otherwise.
l Our different denominations here are at peace with
and among themselves. We do not believe you to be sound ,
but conscientiously believe you to be worse than a traitor.
We are in hopes you will return from whence you came, or
you will be dealt with according to the dictates of our con
sciences. 7 ;;
" The above needs no comment. Suffice it to say
that by it we are reminded of the charge preferred
against our Savior, of casting out devils by Beelze
bub. In harmony with the wishes of many in that
community, I left another appointment. The lan
guage of my heart is, The Lord is my light and
REV. ADAM CROOK9.
my salvation ; who shall I fear ? &lt; TheLord God
is a sun and shield. " Truth is mighty and must
prevail, though its enemies may triumph for a little
season.
" My earnest prayer is that the Great Head of
the Church may guide us unto truth. Brother Mc-
Bride and myself start for Virginia next Monday,
to brother Bacon s trial, which conies on the first
of April, and his third Quarterly meeting, which
commences the first Saturday of April. Your
readers will be advised of the result of the trial as
soon as practicable.
IN BONDS.
"A few days since brother Me Bride advised
your readers of his arrest and my indictment.
Another step has been taken.
" As the writer left the pulpit, the second Sab
bath of this month, he was introduced to two men,
one of whom informed him that he must consider
himself his prisoner, until he gave security in one
thousand dollars for his appearance at the Superior
Court of Forsyth county, on the second Mon
day after the fourth Monday of September next.
Though in a community where my acquaintance is
limited, the Lord raised up friends who gave bonds
for my forthcoming at the above written time and
place.
" The charge is MISDEMEANOR. I do not know
what is t^e specification I presume it is for being
46 . THE LIFE OF
in company when brother Me Bride gave the Ten
Commandments to the little girl. What the sequel
of these things will be, is for time, the great advo
cate and publisher of truth to tell. It will do to
say, I have labored to live in all good conscience
before God until this day. This being the case, I
am careful for nothing, but in all things make
my request unto God. Thanks to his name, my
mind has been kept in perfect peace. We may be
condemned by wicked men, our backs given to the
scourge, our joints to the pillory, and our persons
to a gloomy cell, and it matters but little, it matters
nothing prisons would palaces prove, for Jesus
would dwell with us there. Let our destiny be
what it may, the bonds of our habitations be where
they may, the cause of God will be advanced. The
wrath of man shall praise Him. Let the potsherds
of the earth strive with the potsherds of the earth ;
but let not man contend with his Maker. The
Psalmists prays, . let not man prevail. But shall
man prevail ? What says reason ? Reason answers^.
Not until he clothe himself in thunder, and make
the lightning his girdle ; till he wear the sun for a
crown, the moon for a breastplate; the stars costly
jewels encircling his brow, and the rainbow as his
phylactery ; not until his ipsedixit cause the imrnove-
able pillars and imperishable foundations of the
throne of the universe to crumble, and his breath
extinguish the fires of immortality which glow in
the bosom of Diety.
"You have been advised of our arrest under
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 47
charge of Misdemeanor, for giving the l TEN COM-
MANDMEXTS to a little girl in Liberty, a village on
the suburbs of Salem, the capital of Forsyth county.
"To answer the above charge, accompanied by
Bro. Bacon, Bro, McBride and the writer made our
way to Salem Forsyth county, on the 7th inst. This is
a Moravian town of a population of perhaps fifteen
hundred rather a beautiful place for this country.
The inhabitants are generally of Dutch descent.
Though the Moravians, and even this Church in Sa
lem, were once opposed to the peculiar institution
of the South, many members of Salem Church are
slave-holders. We had been in the place but a
short time ere the news took the wings of electrici
ty, and flew through the entire town, The preach
ers have come!! The abolitionists are here!!!
Great was the excitement among the people. Some
said, They ought to be lynched! others, They
ought to be hung! and other some, No attorney
ought to appear for them, &c., &lt;fcc.
u Perhaps it would be interesting to the reader to
have an introduction to his Honor, the judge who
presided, and the lawyers who plead at the trial.
" The judge (Manly) is of medium size, elegant
form, slightly round-shouldered, perhaps about
forty-five years of age, bright keen eyes, large
intellectual faculties, has great self-possession, and
presides with dignity. From his decisions and
charges to the jury, &c., the reader is left to infer
his sense of justice.
"Messrs, Giliner and Waddell were employed on
48 THE LIFE OF
the part of the State ; the prosecuting attorney, Mr
Pondeqter, did nothing but assist in managing.
" The defendants employed two attorneys Messrs
Morehead and Mendenhall the largest slave-hold
ers in Guilford county. Mr. Morehead is brother
to Ex-Governor Morehead, of N. C., fs rising six
feet in hight, a very giant-like man; a full brain,
gigantic mind, great courage, and is said to be the
best judge of law in the State.
" Mr. Mendenhall is a little over six feet, well pro
portioned, very straight, has a round, high head,
light auburn hair, mechanical and intellectual pow
ers large; is a good reasoner, and quite gentle
manly in his manners.
THE INDICTMENT.
"Contains two specifications. The first charges
1 Jesse McBride and Adam Crooks of, with force
and arms, knowingly, wickedly and unlawfully,
with intention to excite insurrection, conspiracy, ,
and resistance in the slaves or free negroes and
persons of color within the State, bringing into the
State with intent to circulate, a printed pamphlet
named and styled the Ten Commandments, the
evident tendency of which pamphlet would be and
is to excite insurrection, conspiracy and resistance
in the slaves or free negroes and persons of color
within the State, containing, with others, the follow
ing incendiary clauses : (Here are inserted some
extracts from the pamphlet) . . Contrary to Act of
Assembly, &c. .... and against the peace and dig
nity of the State.
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 49
"The second specification charges the said Jess .1
McBride and Adam Crooks of, with force and arms:
wickedly, seditiously, knowingly and intentionally
circulating said pamphlet within the State, with an
intent to incite insurrection, conspiracy and resist
ance in the slaves or free negroes and persons of
color within the State ; which pamphlet, with other
seditious teachings and doctrines, contains the fol
lowing: (Then follow various extracts from the
pamphlet) which taken separately, or with the bal
ance and other parts, have an evident tendency to
excite, &c against the Act of Assembly, &c.&gt;
and against the peace and dignity of the State.
WITNESSES
" On the part of the State (the defendants had no
witnesses) sworn and testify the following:
Washington Kenedy. - That defendants stayed
over night at my house in Liberty. I left early in
the morning; returned in the evening and found
the pamphlet at my house. They behaved Ifee
ministers.
Lora Kenedy. McBride gave me the pamphlet
in the absence of Crooks. He said nothing to me
when he gave it. I think this is the one he gave
me ; I put no mark on it by which to distinguish it
from any other pamphlet of the same name. I go
to Sabbath School ; there are no colored persons at
school or at home.
Just here, by permission from the Judge, Wad-
dell read the pamphlet in open court. This was
done to identify it.
50 THE LIFE OF
"Mr. Shore. 1 1 saw this book at my house. I da
not know who brought it. I did not read it or
mark it. James Kenedy came to my house one
morning and got it. I think this is the same.
"James W. Kenedy. I saw McBride give a little
book to my sister Lora. I was in the yard. Crooks
was not in the house. My father sent nic to Mr.
Shore s after it. I brought it to Belo s store.
" Edward Belo. I got this book of James W.
Kenedy, It is the same ; I put my name on it.
" Henry Marshall. I heard McBride preach at
. He said he was not in favor of amalga
mation or insurrection; was opposed to war of all
kinds; would not have the slaves take swords and
guns and murder their masters; he was the friend
both of the slave and his master. And he invited
us to come to his trial at Salem ; he was indicted
for giving a little white girl the Ten Command
ments.
" David Idle. Never had got a book, pamphlet,
or tract from either McBride or Crooks.
" Smith s testimony about the same as Marshall s.
" George Fulk knew nothing definite.
"Newel Sapp. Heard McBride say he would
preach the truth independently, and Crooks that
he would suffer his right arm to be cut off rather
than with-hold the truth.
" Witnesses through ; go to dinner ; return ; now
pleading commences.
MR. MOREHEAD,
" In behalf of the defendants, commenced his lum-
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 51
inous plea by raising the following point of law &lt;
Though the indictment charges us with Misdemean
or, the statute makes it a Felony. Now in misde
meanors all are principals ; but this is one of those
felonies which admits of accessories. On this
ground I demand an acquittal of Crooks. In order
to convict him as an accessory, you must not only
prove that he was in company at the time the pam
phlet was given, but also that he was employed in
advising or assisting to give it ; but the very con
trary is proven. This is necessary to make him an
a ccessory, but he is charged of being a principal.
But, gentlemen of the jury, the State has made a
complete failure in point of sufficient evidence to
convict McBride. It has not been proven that the
pamphlet was brought into the State by McBride,
so that it is impossible to convict him on the first
charge,
"I now institute a question. It is this : What
constitutes a violation of the Act ? I maintain the
pamphlet must have been given with a wicked in
tent. If this is not so, then the lawyers, etc., who
have been handing this pamphlet to and fro to each
other are every one subject to indictment. The
jury cannot convict McBride, unless it is in testi
mony that he gave it with an intent to bring about
the evils which the law is intended to prevent. To
prove this I refer you to the very familiar case of
the law in England as to blood-letting. The law
required that every man who let blood in the streets
of London, should be hung. Now, though the de-
52 THE LIFE OF
sign of the law is plain, that it was to prevent mur
der which so much prevailed in that populous city,
yet there were actually three physicians hung for
letting blood in the streets in order to save the lives
of persons who were thrown from their carriages.
This led to a change of the law, so that it required
a compound offence, or the overt act with a crimi
nal intent, to violate that law. I hold that this case
is precisely parallel. Now. what is the evidence
that McBride gave the pamphlet with a wicked
intent ? It was not given to a child whose par
ents held slaves, or where there were slaves.
Lora Kenedy did not go to school where there
were slaves; no slaves or colored persons about.
McBride did not advise Lora to make an improper
use of it.
" But again : if the pamphlet is an exposition of
the Ten Commandments then, sirs, the defendants*
are innocent. All Churches have an absolute right
to publish their sentiments to the world. The pam
phlet is not addressed to slaves, but their masters
and freemen. (Here the speaker s manner grew
quite animated.) The Constitution of the United
States, and of this State, secures to every man the
right to worship Almighty God according to the
dictates of his own conscience. All the Churches
but one of which I have any knowledge are, or pro
fess to be opposed to slave-dealing some more,
some less, between the two extremes. Why toler
ate all others and proscribe this? He showed, in
a strong and happy light peculiar to himself, the
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 53
glorious advantages of free discussion ; said it had
saved our necks from the galling yoke of the Church
of Rome, Without free discussion we have no
Protestant Church; we have no America.
" The Ten Commandments is innocent in a politi
cal point of view. The liberty of speech and of
the press are and ought to be tolerated. Upon
this proposition the speaker mesmerized the tre
mendous concourse who were listening with mouth
and ears. (Brother McBride at my side, whispered,
1 What a pity he is not a preacher. )
" Mr. M. said witnesses were brought as a kind
of key to show the intent of the circulation of the
pamphlet, and they all show Mr. McBride to be an
innocent and prudent man. Every man is an abo
litionist who dare say one word about slavery. I
have been called an abolitionist because I dared
present a Quaker petition to the Legislature of this
State, though every man is sworn to present every
petition sent him. Slavery is a question we have a
perfect right to discuss. Strange, indeed, if we
dare not speak our sentiments. Not one of these
men had at any time conversed with slaves in a low,
sneaking way. Mr. M. s speech occupied about an
hour.
MR. GILMER
"Said he did not arise out of antipathy to the de
fendants, but from a sense of duty, &c. Said we
had a right to speak of slavery privately, but never
in the presence of slaves ; that " knowingly " made
the design of the law obvious ; that Post Masters
54 THE LIFE OP
might hand out an anti-slavery document ignorant-
ly, but the design of the law is to prohibit any
and all circulation of anti-slavery publications, eith
er among white or colored persons ; that the law
was established just after the Southampton insurrec
tion, and was made with great care and caution ;
that these men certainly brought the Ten Com
mandments into the State. McBride was recently
from the State of Ohio, and the fact that he had it
in his possession was legal evidence that he brought
it into the State. A man found in possession of
stolen goods was in law considered the thief, until
he showed how he came by them. So, unless they
show how they got this book, they must be consid
ered the guilty persons.
"But it has been argued that the pamphlet was
not given with an evil Intent. The law supposes
a man to intend all that may legitimately flow from
his conduct. Look at the manner in which the
pamphlet was given the child. That he did not
say one word to* her shows clearly his intentions in
giving her the book. He did not ask her to read
it when he gave it to her, nor did he on his return,
at the time of giving the pamphlet to the other
children, say, ^ Lora, have you read your little
book? how do you like it? " or anything of the
kind. No ! but in a sneaking and sly way, when
all were out but the little girl, slips to his trunk,
and hands her this little book. Crooks, in order
that he might appear innocent, stepped out of the
house. No doubt but he was knowing and con-
KEY. ADAM CROOKS. 55
sentive to it all y and hence accessory. The fact of
their having two buggies and separate trunks does
not clear him. They travel together; what one
does the other agrees to. (With great emphasis.)
McBride says he will go ahead independently, law
or no law. Crooks says he will suffer his right
arm to be cut off before he will give up circulating
such pamphlets.
" The speaker, rising in feeling, spoke of the dread
ful consequences of circulating such incendiary pub
lications; of McBride s preaching^ said it would
bring on insurrection. Knives, guns, swords, burn-
Ing houses, cruelties and barbarities, were largely
and fearfully described. Spoke about forty-five
minutes.
MR. H. TVADDELL
" Said I have often stood in defence of criminals,
but never felt so awfully as I do at this time. I
am not defending one life, but thousands of lives,
I am pleading for my country, for the security
and safety of our wives and children The
northern people are the last men to teach us mor
als on the slavery question, since many of them
have got rich by selling their slaves. The aboli
tion of slavery has been put off by Northern fanat_
ics. I have heard a Rev. Mr. McDonnell give a
full description of the Southampton insurrection
a day or two since. He witnessed this horrible
scene; at least he saw mothers and innocen^
babes lying in their blood, exposed to the flies, too
numerous to bury. I think, said Mr. W., Nat
56 THE LIFE OF
Turner must have been a Wesleyan, and felt lie
was commissioned from on High to deliver his breth
ren. Read from Webster s Dictionary the defini
tions of the terms insurrection, conspiracy, and re
sistance; commented largely. Said though slaves
were not in the pamphlet, advised to resist, yet, to
let a slave know that he had no right to have
his sweat and blood extracted, was calculated to
make him resist.
" Why do we want men from Ohio to come and
teach us morals ? We have preachers enough of
our own. Ohio is nearly or quite as bad a place
on account of abolition as New England. Paul
sent Onesimus home, but McBride would not.
McBride called people cowards. What language
fora preacher!! He (McBride) is a bold man.
" Here some pretty strong epithets were used, E.
G. In speaking of anti-slavery doctrines, the speak
er called them hellish principles, &c. The sympa
thies and fears of the jurors were loudly appealed
to. Mr. W. said if these men may go unpunished
then have no law against the midnight assassin.
The speaker called attention to, as supremely ex
ceptionable, the words of Rev. John Wesley, in the
pamphlet where he speaks as follows : l Whatever
it costs put a stop to its cry before it be too late
INSTANTLY. The word instantly, Mr. W. thought
was very significant. It seemed to be the Speak
er s misfortune, during his entire speech of about
an hour, to be so much excited as not to be able to
REV. ADAM CROOKS, 57
master his feelings, arid of course neither the jury,
the audience, nor his subject.
G. C. MENDENHALL
" Arose with a countenance bespeaking mingled
feelings of a profound sense of responsibility, and
a deep determination to discharge his duty with
firmness and integrity. Spoke of the great ex
citement and even prejudice against the defend
ants even counsel is denounced within this bar, for
appearing for them. Said Mr. M., with thrilling
emphasis God forbid that the time should ever
come that a man, an American, arraigned before a
court in North Carolina, shall appear without coun
sel because no man at the bar will open his mouth
for him. The man who has license in his pocket,
or at home, and when called upon refuses to step
forward in behalf of a criminal, and demand the
court to show cause why he should be convicted,
ought to be denounced everywhere, and scouied
from the North Carolina bar.
"In the discharge of my duty as* an Attorney, I
appear to see that these men have a full, fair trial.
Nor do I arise to try and please those around me,
or to make half a plea. Said Mr. M. Even
this jury has been threatened, provided they did
not convict these men. Mr. Waddell informed you
that l if you clear them, you may see the day you
will bitterly regret it. It has been charged upon
them that they have come into our midst unasked
for. Why, does not that gentleman know they are
here as regular ministers of the Gospel ; that they
3*
58 THE LIFE OF
were sent for by your own citizens ; that one has been
here three years, and the other not quite so long?
They preach against intemperance, and the Morav
ians ought not to oppose them on this ground ; and
against war, just as the Moravians once did. The
Quakers, from which I sprung protest, and have for
a hundred years, against slavery.
" For doing nothing more, these men must be
dragged up before this court as felons, and com
pared with Nat Turner. I am sorry that a man
(alluding to Waddell) who ventured to bring so
large a book as Webster s Dictionary before this
court, to teach us the meaning of words and we
acknowledge ourselves duly informed knows no
more about modern history than not to know the
defendants are ministers of the Church organized
in 1843. Here was given a short history of the
Wesleyan Church.
"Is it in testimony that these men have at any
time interfered with slaves ? Where is the man
who gave such evidence ? Let us look at the in
tention of giving the pamphlet. By raking and
scraping their Camp-meetings,, and McBride s meet
ins: at Bethlehem, not one word has been brought
to show that they have any sympathy with insur
rection, but right to the contrary. Is it in testi
mony that the pamphlet was circulated with an in.
tent to have it get among, or into the hands of
negroes ? No such advice was given the little gir],
who was herself a white girl ; her father held no
slaves and there were none about the house. These
fcEV. ADAM CROOKS. 59
men have a right to use means to gain proselytes ;
and believing, as they do, that slavery is sinful,
they have a right to convince masters and freemen
that it is wrong. Mr. Waddell says, &lt; such a hell
ish firebrand as the Ten Commandments was never
circulated in this country. I ll show him that oth
er ministers have brought and circulated things as
bad as this little pamphlet, and that every intelli
gent Methodist minister keeps and circulates books
equally as strong against slavery. Presbyterians and
Quakers do the same. And I ll show, too, that
none of them are incendiary.
"Here, by permission of the court, Mr. M. read
and commented on extracts from the writings and
sayings of the following distinguished statesmen
and divines, viz., Patrick Henry and Thomas Jeffer
son, the brightest stars which Virginia has pro
duced : The narrative of the doings of the North
Carolina Yearly Meeting of Friends on the subject
of Slavery within its limits; Husbands separated
from their wives, parents from their children ?
printed in Greensboro in 1848: Wm. Pinkney;
Clarke s Commentary on 1st Cor., vii:23; Peti
tion of the Presbyterians to their General Assem
bly printed in AVashington and circulated every
where, and equally as strong as the t Ten Command
ments; John Randolph; Win. West; Dr. Paley;
Dr. Burgess; Bishop Horseley; John Jay; Broad-
nax, of Virginia ; Clark s Theology ; Governor
Swain, of North Carolina, scorching; Digest of
the Presbyterian General Assembly, as strong as
60 THE LIFE OF
the English language can make it ; Address of Hon,
Wm. Gaston, before the students at Chapel Hill,
N. C. clear, masterly, and pithy circulated every
where, admired by everybody. Fourth edition,
printed at Raleigh, capital of North Carolina.
Now, gentlemen of the jury, I have not read these
things to convince you that slavery is wrong, but to
show you that if the Ten Commandments is incen
diary, then these are equally so, and to show you
that the defendants have done nothing more than
other ministers do.
But it cannot be that these men design to raise
an insurrection ; for they are here to suffer with us j
and for what have they come ? to set the slaves
at butchering their masters ? No ! But having
brought all their earthly crowns and laid them at
their Master s feet, have come here as humble min
isters of the Gospel of the meek Redeemer. Why,
it is plain this pamphlet was not intended to
go among slaves; for it is not addressed to
them, but their masters. Again, the slaves can
not read, and there is no evidence that McBride
advised the little girl to read it to them, but di.
rectly the contrary. I venture the assertion, that
if this pamphlet had been given out by a Metho
dist Episcopal preacher, there would not have been
one word said about it. And why is it, gentlemen
of the jury, they have indicted Crooks ? There is
not one particle of evidence against him. Not any^
I fear the object was to influence the jury to com
promise, acquit one and convict the other. I have
REV. ADAM C&DOKS. 61
seen too many such compromises. Where is the
witness to testify that either of these men brought
the pamphlet into North Carolina? The State
would have you believe that we must prove our
selves innocent ; that the fact of possession is evi
dence. Have they nothing ? did they never have
anything but what they brought into the State ? There
is something remarkable about the prosecution ;
here are three of the wealthiest men in Salem, pro
secutors. Was not one enough ? But that would
not give sufficient character to all this excitement.
I fear, and I awfully fear, there is too much ground
of fear, that there is a design in all this, to force a
conviction on these men. Mr. Waddell, with the
appearance of sincerity, told you not to suffer your
selves to be influenced by any appeals which had
been made or which may be made on either side.
No, no j that gentleman would not have you become
excited. I bring up burning houses, streaming
blood and dying men, women and children, but
don t suffer yourselves to be excited. "
"Mr. M. after reading from his notes fifteen reasons
why the defendants should be acquitted, about
8 o clock at night concluded his last manly de~
fence of three hours and a half, which was deliver
ed in a clear, dignified, and masterly manner ; and,
notwithstanding its length, was heard by all with
the most profound interest and breathless attention.
The pleading closed; the Judge delivered his
CHARGE TO THE JURY,
which was as follows : after reading the law,
62 IKE LIFE OP
the Judge observed, The indictment contains two
charges. The first, of bringing into the State, with
intent to circulate, a printed pamphlet, the evident
tendency of which, would be to excite insurrection,
conspiracy, and resistance in the slaves. The
second charge is, of circulating said pamphlet with
in the State, and so on. We will reverse the thing,
and take the latter charge first. You will first consid
er the contents of the pamphlet. Has it an evi
dent tendency to excite insurrection, or is it
an argument couched in respectful language as to
the morality of slavery, or of the best method of
doing it away.
1 You will then consider the evidence in regard
to circulating the pamphlet. Did he give (lifting
the Ten Commandments ) this pamphlet to the lit
tle girl ? Next, is this the same pamphlet ? As
to the contents of this book, after the most serious
and critical examination, I give it as my judgment,
that it does have an evident tendency to excite in.
surrection. As to the question of his giving
the pamphlet to the girl there can be no doubt.
It is not my opinion that to violate the law, is nec
essary to circulate incendiary publications among
the blacks. The design of the Legislature, no
doubt, was to prevent the circulation of such things
among the white, as well as the black portion of
the community. Such productions tend to excite
the master to treat his slave in such a manner as
to create dissatisfaction in the slave with the treat
ment of his master. That this is the same pain-
REV. ADAM CROOKS. G3
plilet which McBride gave the girl, seems to" be
clearly proven by all the witnesses, who testified
to that point.
If Mr. Crooks was present and advising, or aid
ing Mr. McBride to give out the pamphlet at the
time it was given, he is equally guilty, but I be
lieve the testimony is, he was not present. If from
the evidence you think the defendants brought the
pamphlet into the State, say so, and if not, say so.
Giving the jury the papers he ordered them to be
conducted to their room.
"The court arose, to sit next forenoon at 10 o clock.
Bro s Bacon, McBride and the writer retired to
our lodgings ; committed ourselves to God ; slept
securely till morning; at ten o clock returned to
Court: the Judge in the chair; the Jury report
they are agreed upon a
VEKDICT
That &lt; Crooks is not guilty. McBride not guilty
of the first, but guilty of the second charge, and
ask for him the mercy of the Court. The sentence
was not immediately pronounced. About eleven
o clock Bro. McBride s counsel, Mr. Morehead
moved for a new hearing, and required the State
to show cause why it should not be granted. A
new hearing being refused, the Judge passed
SENTENCE
That Brother McBride shall stand at the pillory one
hour, receive twenty stripes, and be imprisoned in
the county jail one year, and that the Sheriff pro-
64 THE LIFE OF
ceed to inflict the penalty immediately. Where
upon an
APPEAL
was taken to the Supreme Court of the State,
which holds its session at Raleigh, on the 30th of
December next.
GROUNDS OF THE APPEAL.
" We think the court erred in the following :
1st. The court permitted the whole of the pam
phlet to be read ia evidence, when only a part of
it was set forth in the indictment.
2d. That giving the little book to a child was
not putting the same into circulation under the act
of Assembly.
3d. As a matter of law, the evident tendency of
the book was not to excite to insurrection, conspir
acy, and resistance.
4th. That the penalty of the A^.t was incurred
by circulating the book among white persons, with
out reference to an intention that it should be cir
culated among persons of color. The appeal being
entered,
A MOTION TO FORBID PREACHING AND CIRCULATING
BOOKS.
"By Mr. Waddell it was moved that the court for
bid Mr. McBride to preach or circulate books till
the next session of the court, or for six months, on
which he made a fiery appeal to the passions of the
court, and ad capta.ndum vulgus.
"Followed by Morehead in a thrilling address, in
which he commenced by saying, Surely we have
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 65
got into strange cities/ spoke in a pathetic manner
of McBride s innocence, of his great loss and yore
affliction in the death of his companion; of his sep
aration from a lovely daughter; called upon them
to point to an immoral act of his life, or an improp
er word from his lips.
"Mr. Waddell was very reluctant to protract
this unhappy discussion, but he had been called up
on to l point out an immoral act. The speaker
referred to the meeting in Jamestown, published by
Montgomery. McBride might be honest he was sure
he was misguided. I, said W./ revere the holy re-
ligion of the Bible as much as any man ... .1 know
no master but the law, and that we make ourselves/
&lt;fcc., to the end. The court decided it was not
proper to forbid McBride from preaching as he
had not been tried for that ; but he should consid
er himself $1000 in debt to the State of North
Carolina, if he did not appear at this court at its
next session, or did circulate the l Ten Command
ments/ or anything similiar, between this and then.
Securities given. We went out from Salem, pray
ing God s blessing upon His enemies and ours, and
if not rejoicing that we were counted worthy to
suffer for his name s sake/ at least.
Submissive, I trust to the will Divine.
" The moral elements are in commotion, but God
rules the storm, bless His name ! He has thus far
said to our hearts fear not. Let all who truly
fear God and love man, join us in praying and la
boring, and if need be. suffering, to bring on that
66 THE LIFE OF
happy day, when every system which arrays one
portion of the human family against the other shall
be extinct, and love s golden chain bind all in its
sacred inclosure.
OTHER PERSECUTIONS.
"Ecclesiastical history not imfrequently furnishes
matter alike interesting to the Christian and lovers
of the novel. The following may to some extent be
of this character.
" Meetings are held in this State under the inno
cent name of Fairs, at which pilgrims from various
parts of North and South Carolina assemble ; some
for the laudable purpose of selling various articles
of food, and other some for the less praiseworthy
motive of gambling, horse swapping, trafficing and
drinking intoxicating liquors. At these almost
every thing is fair.
" On one of these noted occasions, in Montgomery
Co., a council was held to fix upon some plan to
stay the progress of Wesleyanisni in these parts*
which resulted in the appointment of a Committee
to wait on the writer, and request him to absent
himself from the State of North Carolina by the 1st
of February next. Accordingly, on the 27th of
December, eight souls, the number saved in the ark ?
sought, but found not the object of pursuit, he not
being at his usual boarding-house; so they left a
letter, stating if they did not get an answer they
would meet me at one of my appointments. The
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 6
following is a copy of their letter, including orthog
raphy and prosody.
" North Carolina, Montgomery Co.
I We the undersigned Committee having been appointed,
by a large meeting of the citizens of Montgomery, and the
adjoining Counties, to wait On Adam Crooks, abolitionist?
and request him peaceably to leave the State of North Car
olina, by the 1st of February next, and we demand posi
tive answer from the said Crooks whether or not he intends
to comply with the requirements of these few lines, this
27th of December, 1850. [Signed by eleven names.]
II An answer was prepared, but not being sent, on
Sabbath, the 12th inst., nix men came to the meet
ing-house just as services commenced, but did not
come into the house. Meeting being concluded,
Mr. B. desired Mr. Byrns to introduce him to the
preacher.
1 I ll do no such tiling ; why did you not come in
to the house like a man ?
1 Is your name Crooks ?
1 That is my name.
1 My name is Bright. I wish to have a word
with you. We are appointed by a meeting of
Montgomery county, to request you to leave the
State of North Carolina. We think you are doing-
no good, and for the sake of the peace and harmo
ny of the community, we desire you to leave.
I received a letter to that purport a few days
since.
Yes, but we got no answer.
I prepared an answer, but had no opportunity
of sending il. I am of the same mind as when I
wrote it; and in it I decline complying.
68 THE LIFE OP
Then you do not ask any set time, only till yon
see cause to leave ?
All I ask is the rights of any other preacher of
the Gospel. All we ask is the rights of the" State.
I have not, nor do I have any disposition to violate
these rights. Good day, gentlemen.
"All left, but Mr. 0., the writer of the above note.
1 Mr. 0., I believe you are the writer of the let
ter received.
1 Yes, sir.
1 I have written an answer, and as I hold your
letter, you can have the answer, if you desire it.
I should like to have it. "
" Whereupon the following was given.
&lt; Valentine Moore s, Mont. Co., Jan. Qth, 1851.
"To the Committee appointed by a large meeting
of the citizens of Montgomery and adjoining coun
ties, to wait on Adam Crooks, abolitionist, and re.
quest him peaceably to leave the State of North
Carolina, by the 1st of February next.
K Sirs : Your by no means polite note, bearing
date, of December 27th, is before me, which I will
endeavor to answer, in the meekness of humility,
and kindness of charity, as well as in the frankness
of honesty and plainness of sincerity.
"And 1st: As to the language of your letter, it
is well calculated to extort the exclamation, Mirabile
dictu! You begin with a request, and conclude
with an absolute demand, which your own good
sense must teach you had not the least shadow of
a right to make.
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 09
u 2d : To the implied charge of abolitionism, I am
free to acknowledge, I believe with Benjamin Frank
lin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick
Henry, William Pinkncy, John Wesley, Richard
Watson, Adam Clarke, and others, philosophers,
statesmen and divines, to whom the- world owes a
large debt of gratitude, and to whose names poster
ity will gladly pay its devoir, of a place on the fair
est page of fame, on the subject of American sla
very. In the fullest sense, I subscribe to that ever
memorable instrument, the Declaration of Independ
ence; written, using the language of figure, with
the point of the sword in the blood of the heroes of
seventy-six, who appealing to the Searcher of hearts
to witness the rectitude of their intentions, with
the American flag majestically floating in heaven s
free air over their heads, and the watchword LIBER
TY, blazing in capitals from its ample folds, nobly
wrote : f We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal, and endowed by
their Creator with inalienable right to life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness; that to maintain
these rights, governments are instituted among
men, deriving their just powers from the will of
the governed.
" And is this, in the estimation of their sons, an
offense, a crime meriting exilement ? If so, as Croe
sus cried out, Solon! Solon! Solon! may not
we with equal propriety, though opposite emotions,
exclaim l Fathers of the revolution ! Fathers of
the revolution ! Fathers of the revolution !
70 THE LIFE OP
"3rd. With regard to your requestor three rea_
sons I can not comply.
" First. There is no insignificant number of as loy
al citizens, and some as orderly Christians as crown
this or any other State, desire my ministerial ser
vices ; and because I can not be false to these, false
to myself, false to my office, to the Church, and
above all, false to God, I can not comply.
" Second. As an American citizen, pursuing a
laudable, not to say charitable occupation, to a
self-constituted tribunal, recognized by no law-gov
erning civilized nations, I can not yield the right to
try without notice, convict without a hearing, and
banish without crime. To do so would be to oifer
a base indignity to our nature as men, and charac
ter as Americans.
" In the third place, I can not comply with so
unreasonable a request, because as a Christian and
Christian minister I will not surrender to any
earthly power, and more especially to illegally as
sumed authority, the right given by our Almighty
Creator, and secured by the government under
which it is our privilege to live, to worship Al
mighty God according to the dictates of conscience.
" I am bold to declare that no true American or
genuine Christian, will either make or submit to
such demands. The pen which recorded the sur.
render, would be quite as dark as the page which
chronicled the requirement. What would such
procedure be, but a re-establishment of Inquisitorial
Councils ? the re-kindling the consuming fires of re.
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 71
luriom: intolerance ? the annihilation of the Protes.
tant reformation and all its glorious blessings, and
the resurrection of all the bloody cruelties of the
Papal persecution ? Would you have the ignomiui.
ous tragedy of the reign of Henry VIII, Queen
Alary, and James II the reign of terror re-acted
on American soil? If so, who will tell the mourn
ful catastrophe ? Who will give assurance that
your children s children will not drink the fatal
dregs of the poisonous cup first presented by their
erring fathers ? If there are such things as weep
ing in heaven, and sorrow in the tomb, might not
sainted spirits find occasion here to drop a tear
over the grave of slaughtered freedom, and the
bosoms of illustrious dead to heave a sigh for de.
parted glory ?
" Than that such should be the case that the
clarion of freedom should cease to whisper in our
breezes, and murmur along our stream s, the free
born conscience enslaved; liberty s self murdered,
in the house of her friends, and by hands which
should cherish her ; her garments stained, and home
drenched with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus ;
the name of our loved, our idolized America, should
be written on the page of infamy, and be a hissing
and by-word among kings, princes, and autocrats ;
every man s hand of the American people be turned
against his fellow, and they fall victims to the evils
of intestine broils, and the ravages of international
wars ; I say, before these things come upon us, let
the sun refuse to look upon us; the stars repre-
72 THE LIFE OF
sented on our country s flag, withdraw from the
firmament; let the American name be blotted from
the archives of nations ; the American people fall
beneath the devouring pestilence from God; our
fair cities, flourishing towns, and peaceful hamlets*
become one unbroken desolation; and fruitful
fields, green meadows, and majestic forests, a thea
ter of the sports of wild beasts, and return to the
uninterrupted dominion of the untutored savage.
" Permit me to ask, in all kindness and candor,
may not your procedure, if prosecuted, prove to be
the precursor and even the prelude, to all these
dreadful calamities ?
" That the above indifferently described evils be
averted, and their opposite blessings secured, may
the American people, ever proverbially sensitive to
the least seeming encroachment on their individual
or national rights, insure their enjoyment to them
selves and posterity by uniformly respecting, as no
less sacred, the rights of each other ; worshiping as
seemeth good unto them, and allowing their neigh
bors the peaceable enjoyment of that exalted privi"
lege. And if at any time they differ in opinion, as
in our imperfect state we will be certain to do, let
us pray for and reason one with another ; thus at
once obeying the heavenly command, and imitating
the glorious example of Him who causes His sun
to shine on the evil and the good, and rain to bless
the just and unjust, and died for us when we were
enemies, remembering that if any man have not His
spirit he is none of His.
HEY, ADAM CROOKS. 73
v
""I will conclude this scroll, the length of which
please excuse, by referring you to the wise advice
of Gamaliel, Acts v : 33-39 ; the woe pronounced
against the offender, Matthew xviii:l-7; please
ponder well Matthew xxv: 31-46.
" We have erected two meeting-houses this Win
ter, one in Montgomery and the other in Randolph
Co. We anticipate a visit from our deeply injured;
but highly esteemed Brother McBride on the first
and second Sabbath of the next inst., at which time
we purpose holding protracted meetings. May the
Lord greatly revive his work. Amen."
It was during this visit of Brother McBride s, in
February, 1851, that, as they were going from one
appointed place of meeting to another, each in
his own carriage, as they came to the top of a
high hill, they saw in the valley below, three men,
armed with guns, standing across the road. EvL
dently they were waiting for them. Brother
McBride said,
" Crooks, do you see those men ?"
Mr. Crooks answered, " Yes."
That was all that passed between them, but
their hearts were lifted in silent prayer to One
who is ever ready to help his children in time of
danger. When they came to the place where the
men stood, two passed to one side of the road, and
one to the other.
Mr. Crooks said, " Good morning, gentlemen."
The men answered, " Good morning,"
4
74 THE LIFE OF
As they ascended .the opposite hill, before they
passed out of sight, they glanced back, and saw two
other armed men coming. They heard afterwards
that five men had pledged themselves to meet there,
and waylay and kill Mr. Crooks, as he regularly
passed that way to attend his appointments. Two
of their number were tardy. McBride was a
stranger. The three probably feared to act alone
and through Providence their plans were brought
to nought-
KELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE IN NORTH CA11O-
LINA.
Nothing in all the book of common sayings is
more true than that Coming events often cast their
shadows before them/ " In nature the morning star
proclaims the approach of the superior splendor of
the solar orb. The semi-decomposition of his rays
forming divergent milk-colored lines in the vapory
air, precedes the darkening heavens, the red light
ning, roaring thunder, dashing rain, and the sweep,
ing tornado. The rumbling of the volcano is pre
cursory to the vomitings of the clouds of smoke and
ashes, showers of burning stones and rivers of
fiery lava.
" In the progress of human affairs, circumstances
intrinsically of little or no importance, in their re
lations to mighty movements, are fraught with in
terests boundless in extent arid endless in duration
" The fact that pieces of carved wood, a canoe
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 75
and two human bodies differing in complexion from
Europeans, bad been driven by westerly winds up
on the shores of islands contiguous to Europe, was
important only as to its influence upon the observ
ing mind of Columbus, in leading to the discovery
of an unknown hemisphere,
" The falling of an apple is a simple and common
occurrence, yet it taught Newton, priest of nature,
the great law of attraction by which the mighty
God governs the grand machinery of the heavens.
" The burning of Andrew Oliver in effigy, in Bos
ton, on the 14th of August, 1765, and the break
ing open of three hundred and forty-two chests of
tea, and emptying their contents into the ocean,
the 18th of December, 1773, trifling as they are,
serve as a thermometer to indicate feelings which
throbbed through the veins and arteries, and nerv
ed the arm of the United Colonies feelings which
brightened till they produced throes which shook
the foundations of the mightiest throne on earth,
and gave birth to a nation no less powerful.
"And the formation of the Jacobin club in France
in 1790, in itself appeared unimportant; yet it was
the shadow of coming events which convulsed the
world. Considered as the unobserving eye of the
multitude beholds human transactions separate
and disconnected, uninfluenced and uninfluencing,
the subject of this communication is comparatively
local and unimportant. But viewed as the true
philosopher, wise statesman, and enlightened Chris
tian are wont to look upon passing incidents con-
76 THE LIFE OP
nected, linked, bound to, influenced by, and infiu
encing all the movements of men ; and as a mile
stone marking the progress of civilization, and en
lightened liberal and Christian principles, or of
political and religious degeneracy, it is infinitely
otherwise.
" It is the seizure and forcible commitment to
prison, in Montgomery Co., North Carolina, on the
Sabbath, by professors of Christianity and officers
of the law, without the iornis of law ; refusing bail
of a free born American and Minister of the Gospel
uncondemned, which it is the painful task of my
pen to record.
The morning of Sabbath, the 15th of June, as if
unwilling to be a spectator of the transactions of
the day, the sun arose behind a cloud. The air
was cool, as if chilled by the inhospitality of the
hearts of the oppressors.
"The rumor that a mob was to be at the Lovejoy
Chapel, to transport him beyond the limits of the
county, induced him to leave his horse at Brother
Y. Moore s about a mile from the Chapel, and go
to meeting early before the mob could arrive. By
ten o clock quite a number of the loyal band land
ed, and fifteen minutes to eleven, the balance, num
bering in all according to their supposition one
hundred and seventy-five ; ten of whom were magis
trates. The preacher was sitting in the pulpit,
when the mob, headed by S. Christian, a "Justice
of the Peace" and a negro-trader as their orator,
approached and accosted Mm with :
REV. ADAM CROOKS.
77
" Is your name Crooks ?"
" That is my name."
" My name is Christian. The Methodist Episco
pal Church North and South are divided. They
have agreed on a line, and this very subject of
slavery has divided them. The North would not
have a slave-holding bishop. Andrew, being a slave
holder, was deprived of his office, and on this ac
count the Church split. The slavery question is
agitating this whole nation."
" Yes," said Crooks, " it is convulsing it from
center to circumference."
"And you have come amongst us preaching
against slavery violating our laws breeding dis
turbance. I have no doubt you preach the Gospel,
but we are not heathens, we are a Christianized
people. You are making interruptions in families,
in neighborhoods, and Churches, (wonder if he is
not a regular descendant of some chivalric knight,)
and causing us to abuse our servants; for they
have got to know you are preaching that they
ought to be free, and it makes them unruly ; so that
they have to be abused. And now, what WQ want
of you is a solemn promise that you will leave the
county forthwith, and never preach in it again."
" You, Mr. Christian, are mistaken as to Bishop
Andrew being deposed. He was a bishop at the
rise of the General Conference of 1 844. In an
swer to three questions it was ordered that his
name should remain with the other bishops he
should receive a bishop s pay ; the work he did to
THE LIFE OF
be subject to his discretion in view of the action of
that Conference. But that matters not, it being
merely a fact of ecclesiastical history. As to my
having violated your laws, your conduct to-day vnr
dicates me from that charge."
" I think not."
" Evidently," continued Crooks, for had I brok
en your laws, you would not have been under the
necessity of violating them and adopting the sub
lime modus operandi of Mob Law to punish me."
" Some of the company. We did not come here
to have a debate. "
" Certain charges have been preferred, and it is
the undisputed right of every man to be heard be
fore being judged; and I am going to be heard.
As to breaking the peace ; you have acknowledged
I preached the gospel. As to your not being heath
ens but a Christianized people, your conduct in
trying to drive out of the county a man for preach
ing the gospel, is more like that of heathens than
of Christians. Not a drop of blood warms my
heart, or courses iny veins in favor of insurrection.
Were you to take my advice there would be no
danger of such an event,"
" What would that be ? "
" Do by your slaves as you would they should do
to you,"
"Explain."
" It needs no explanation. It is so plain a way
faring man though a fool shall not err therein."
" Now, see there !"
REV. ADAM CROOKS.
" With regard to leaving the county, etc., it is
my right, in common with American citizens, to
come and go at pleasure. The Constitution of the
United States says, the citizens of each State shall
have all the privileges and immunities of the citi
zens of the several states."
" Mr. Cogins, [a magistrate and slave-holder, was
once class-leader in the M. E. Church, is not now
a Church-member.] " Did you not agree to leave
Ouilford, and never return?"
" Mr. Cogins, I do not wish to be interrupted,
but I answer, I did not."
" I am informed you did."
" I know what I did, and I know I did not.
To give a promise nerer to preach in this county,
is a demand you have no right to make, and one to
which I as a Christian minister have no right to
submit. I trust I shall ever be ready to go where
God commands, and should I feel it my duty to
preach in Montgomery County, by His grace as
sisting I shall try. The right to worship accord
ing to dictates of conscience, with other rights, was
purchased at the expense of blood, lives and treas
ures, of our revolutionary fathers, and should not
be surrendered but with life. The Constitution of
North Carolina, which some of this company have
taken a solemn oath to support, secures this right.
Here a number of persons commenced asking ques
tions at the same instant, having one employed in
penning down the answers given."
T. Halton " Brother Crooks"
" O, don t call him brother."
80 THE LIFE OF
" Yes, let us call him brother. Brother Crooks,
did you not preach to servants not to obey their
masters ? "
"I did not."
" I did not hear you, but heard you did."
H. Hulen to Haltom " Don t you interrupt the
man,"
" Haltom, much excited, shook his fist, stamped
his foot to the floor, and striking the book-board r
declared he was at home on his own premises.
Crooks, " O, men ! keep calm !"
0. Hulen. " Men, are we in Court? If so let
the judges call the court to order ; and if we came
to worship God, let us do it."
Mr. Bright. " 0, men, do your duty for which
you come here."
Mr. Christian. " Well, can you comply with our
request ? "
" I have answered that question,"
" We have extended the olive branch of peace to
you, and if you do not receive it, you must abide
the consequences."
" Crooks now for the first time rises from his-
seat; "I extend the olive to all men. I have
lived in all good conscience to God and man since
I came amongst you feel resolved despite of all
oppOvSition, to do the will of God and make my
home in the cloudless regions of undying delight."
Mr. Cogins [in an excited tone.] " Who are
REV, ADAM CROOKS. 81
3 T ou what were you before you come here, have
you papers to show ?"
"I have."
" By whom are they signed ; the Governor of
the State ? "
" By members and ministers of the Methodist
Episcopal and Methodist Protestant Church, and
the treasurer of the County Court. I have them in
my pocket, if you wish you can see them."
\Vho knows by whom they are signed."
" Mr. Christian : Aaron Burr was once a good
man and afterwards guilty of treason.
" Crooks : Aaron Burr was once a good man
and afterwards guilty of treason, therefore, 0.
Hulen is a bad man, Aaron Burr was once a
good man and afterwards turned traitor, therefore
S. Christian is a bad man. Is not that strange
logic ?"
"Mr. Bright: men, perform the duty for
which you came !"
" Mr. Cogins : Were you sent for to come to
this State ?"
" I was."
" By whom ?"
"Forty persons .in Guilford."
" Name some of them."
" Well, Mr. John Sherwood of Jamestown, and
Rev. D. Wilson of Guilford."
"Was Wilson a preacher in the Methodist
Church."
"He was."
4*
82 THE LIFE OF
Mr. Bright: "Did he not apply for license, and
it being refused, get mad and leave the Church ? "
" He was a preacher of the M.-E. Church."
" I heard it otherwise."
Mr. Cogins : "Did not the Annual Conference
pass resolutions condemnatory of your course ? "
" Yes sir. The North Carolina Yearly Confer
ence of the Methodist Protestant Church did pass
sentence of condemnation upon us."
" No, but one of the Northern Conferences of
the Wesleyan Methodist Church."
" No sir."
" The papers say they did."
" If they do, they say that which is untrue."
" Did you not write to the editor of the WES
LEYAN, that 0. Hulen told you of a man in this
county tying up his slave, putting a log of wood
between his feet and whipping him to death ? "
" I wrote no such thing."
" No, not that he whipped him to death, but
gave him five hundred lashes,"
" If you, Mr. Cogins, have a paper having such
an article, and my name attached to it, perhaps I
wrote it."
" Now, just see there."
" One of the crowd ; " 0. Hulen is here, he can
speak for himself."
" 0. Hulen, did you give Mr. Crooks such in
formation ?"
" Are we in court ? Who is the Judge ? "
" One says, " Christian ; let him show his au-
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 83
thority. Oh we have nothing against Mr. Hulen."
"During a miscellaneous interchange between
the contending parties. Mr. Crooks, resuming his
seat, seemed to lift his heart in devout but silent
prayer.
" As the preacher had but one answer to their de
mand, four men were ordered to take him from
the stand. Orders were instantly obeyed.
" O. Hulen. Men, take notice who takes hold of
that man by violence."
" Crooks wished to get his hat and books,
" From the crowd. i Yes, let him get them, "
" As they descended the pulpit, Wm. Hurley
wished to know what they were going to do.
" Oh, get out of our way !"
u But stop, you don t run over me. What are
you going to do with the preacher ? "
" Going to take him to Troy."
" Well, can t you take bail ? "
"We want no bail."
" Crooks is led or rather dragged from the pul
pit into the yard. All is confusion. Some are
rushing for their horses, others are screaming, and
still others prostrated, motionless and speechless.
"Where is Crooks horse; where is his horse j
where is your horse ? "
" Where I left him, I expect."
41 Where did you leave him ? "
" Where he is welcome."
" Has any person a horse and buggy to take-
9 this man to Troy ? "
84 THE LIFE OF
" He is taken to Luther s vehicle. Luther is ai
magistrate, a slave-holder and one of the brave
four.
" Let us have help to put this man in the buggy."
Oh, he will get in-! Get in !"
Crooks remaining motionless and silent.
" Let us have help to put this man in the buggy, r
"Oh, he ll get in, he ll get in !"
" Crooks remaining motionless and silent.
" Let us help to put this man in the buggy."
" Oh, he ll get in, he ll get in !"
a With emphasis and anger &lt; Get in, get in I
Come here, some four or five men and help to put
this man in the buggy ! "
" He is hoisted to a seat.
" 0. Hulen. Men, take notice who forces this
man into that buggy/
" Mr. Cogins, I will help to put him in, now do
your d ndest. ?:
" Said Crooks, is there no means of conveyance
for Sr W. L., my friend from Randolph ? None be
ing obtained, in company with three brethren, L,
walked to Troy, a distance of six miles. But one
of Crooks friends (0. Hulen,) in company from
the Chapel to Troy, those on foot taking a shorter
way.
[" Conversation om the way.]
" Crooks. There is a day approaching when
there will be an account to meet for this day s
work.
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 85
"Luther. Yes, and you will have to answer for
your conduct.
" C. I hope I shall be prepared to do so.
"L. Those who have taken you have done God a
service.
"C. Our Saviour has told us the time would come
when those who kill his followers, would think
they did God service. But that question will be
settled at the Judgment, and the Judge will con
sider treatment to his servants as done unto Him.
Now if he were on earth again would you drive
Him from the county ?
" L. l l don t know what we might do, if he were
an abolitionist. We are going to have perilous
times, and we are bound to keop them off as long
as we can. You would bring them on before the
time. "
" C. That s what the devils said to Jesus "Thou
art come hither to torment us before the time. "
But if you would take my counsel all danger of
perilous times would vanish. Your conduct to
your slaves make them your enemies. Were you
to treat them with justice and kindness they would
become your friends. You remind me of the say
ing of a heathen philosopher. &lt; Whom the gods
would destroy they first make mad. To prevent
an insurrection you banish a man for advising you
to pursue the only course which can secure you
against such a disaster.
" Nothing can be more certain than that slavery
will prove fatal to the South if it is not peaceably
86 THE LIFE OF
abolished. The war between the antagonistic prin
ciples and interests of liberty and slavery, is bound
to go on till one destroys the other. As well at
tempt to reconcile God and the devil, as to estab
lish peace upon a permanent basis between liberty
and slavery, and it is for every man to say which
side he will take in the contest. Slavery will de
stroy the country if the country does not destroy
slavery.
"L. I have some slaves, but I wish there was not
one in the United States. "
"C. And yet you will drive from the County a
man for advising you what you wish was done.
But I notice when a slave concludes to leave, you
do all in your power to bring him back.
"L. The slaves of the South in general, are much
better off than the free niggers of the North, and
men of intelligence and candor from the North ad
mit it.
" C. Perhaps these intelligent and candid gen
tlemen are not competent judges : one thing is un
deniable, and that is, there is not a single instance
of a negro s fleeing from liberty to slavery, while
there are numerous cases of an opposite character.
" L. I treat my. slaves as well as I could wish
them to treat me.
" C. Were you a slave, would you not wish to
be free.
"L. Yes.
"C. Why, then, do you say you use them as you
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 87
Would be used, while you refuse them their free
dom ?
"L. 0. If I were blade t 1 don t think I would wish
to be free. Your preaching makes the slaves dis
satisfied, [They are wonderfully well satisfied]
we have the gospel preached by others.
"C. Well, it has been admitted that I preach the
gospel. Why punish me for doing that for which
you honor others ?
"L. They preach the gospel of peace.
"C. If they do you have a poor way of obeying
them.
" Christian, with an affected smile, I heard quite
a good joke the other day about you and myself.
"Crooks, very seriously Ah ! what was that ?
Why, I heard that you are m my employ ; preach
ing against slavery, that I may purchase below par j
and then we divide profits.
" C. That is doubtless as true as many other
things you have heard.
" Now, Mr. Crooks, you must know that your
preaching is contrary to our laws, for they are in
favor of, and you preach against slavery.
" Not any more contrary to law, Mr. Christian,
than for temperance lecturers to proclaim against
the license law, and for Whigs to denounce laws
enacted by Democrats, or vica versa the law does
not enjoin but permits slavery.
" But you violate the law by disturbing the peace
of Churches.
" You, Mr. Christian, cannot be ignorant of the
88 THE LIFE OF
fact that the law establishes no form of Church
government.
" C. Yes. it does.
" Show the chapter, section, and paragraph. Our
laws allow all Churches the privilege of fixing their
own terms of communion and membership, and
every individual the right to worship according to
the dictates of conscience. You say you believe
slavery is right. I believe it is wrong. The law
allows us an equal right to our faith.
"You know your course is contrary to law, for
McBride was convicted of a violation of 1 aw.
"True it is, a jury of twelve men gave it as their
opinion that McBride had broken the law, but an
appeal being taken to the Supreme Court, his pros
ecutors unwilling to abide its decision, raised a
mob and drove him from the State. They knew
right well he was an innocent man : the leaders
of the mob acknowledged they believed him to be
a gentleman and Christian ; and one of them said,
as soon as he saw the grounds of appeal, he knew
they could not convict him by law. The means
you adopt to support your cause is a virtual ac
knowledgement. You must not be offended, Mr.
Christian, at me a prisoner, for talking so plainly
to you, for really I feel I am conversing with an
equal, and nothing more.
"C. No, not at.all ; I travel a great deal; I have
been in almost all the States in the Union. Don t
you believe George Washington is in Heaven ?
"Well, what if I do?
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 89
"Why, he was a slave-holder.
" George Washington willed his slaves their
freedom.
" C. No, he did not.
" He most certainly did ; I know whereof I af
firm.
" Are you in favor of the Fugitive Slave Law ?
"Iain not. Now, you see that was passed by
Congress, and it is the best thing that has ever
been done; had not that law passed, the Union
would have been dissolved, and if it is repealed it
will be dissolved.
" That is a matter of opinion, and I very much
differ with you. I have never been able tr per
suade myself, the South is so foolish as to dissolve
the Union. I would be opposed to the Fugitive
Bill, if for no other reason, because it does not re
spect the rights of conscience.
"[Luther. Mr. Christian, where will we stop?
Mr. Crooks says he is hungry, and I wan t my
dinner.
" Christian. Well, he must have dinner, Where
do you usually stop ? "
" Where it happens."
" The prisoner was taken to Luther s, and after
washing himself, was desired to read from two
papers relating to the notorious abolitionists, Mc-
Bridc and himself, one of which articles was head
ed in large letters, " DAMN CROOKS," which he did.
" C. I had noticed how that was headed ; it must
be by mistake.
90 THE LIFE OP
" Prisoner. I suppose it was intended for a bur
lesque, but it matters nothing.
"Seated at the table, Christian requests Crooks
to ask a blessing, which he did.
" Dinner over ,Mr. J., an official member in the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the mob,
thought it a reasonable request which had been
made; wished to know the meaning of abolition;
was informed by the prisoner it was a derivation
from abolish, which means to destroy, to do away,
and is most commonly applied to slavery.
" Sheriff Sanders. (also a member of the Metho
dist Episcopal Church, and one of the mob.) " Yes,
that is its meaning."
" C. You, Mr. Crooks, must know that your
Church is contrary to our laws, for they favor slav
ery, and your Church opposed it.
" C. As before stated, Churches are at liberty to
make a^y terms of membership they see proper,
and individuals to worship as they may deem is
right. If you believe it right to hold slaves, there
are Churches where you will be readily received.
We believe we are equally entitled to a Church
whose doctrine and discipline prohibit slave-hold
ing -a Church according with our religious convic
tions.
u But if the Wesleyan organization is contrary to
your laws, because it makes slave-holding a test of
membership, what will you do with the Quakers
Church which does the same ?
a C. Oh ! the Quakers hold slaves.
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 91
" Under what circumstances ? Dying persons
sometimes make them their agents in securing the
freedom of their slaves ; this, at times, proves the
occasion of law-suits ; they hold them till the suit is
decided, and if in favor of the slaves their liberty
is given them.
" C. If it is right to hold them a little while, it
is right to hold them always.
Sanders. [spoke in the positive] " Almost
all the Quakers hold slaves. They are in favor of
slavery." [A strange declaration for a professed
Christian to make.]
" C. I stayed over night with Mr. H., a Quaker,
and he said they were as much opposed to the
Wesleyans as to any dfenorni nation ; that he be-
licvi d there are many slaveholders good Christians,
and that he would advise e\erybody to keep the
ANVsleyan preachers out of their houses. [It is
never necessary to make false statements to sup
port a righteous cause.]
" C. Why do you not go to South Carolina.
" I have never been invited, nor have I felt it my
duty to go.
" You talk about duty. What if you should feel
it your duty to tell my slave to kill me.
" C. Should you find me about your stables steal
ing your horses, or about your kitchens, or any
where else violating the law, I refuse not to suffer
in a legal manner. You talk of violating your laws,
and you have every one broken your own laws
92 THE LIFE OF
this very day, and you know it, and you know that
I know it.
" Sheriff Sanders. If we have we are willing to
abide the consequences.
" Crooks. So I say."
" To Win. Hurley. What is the reason you
could not stay in the Church you first joined ?
" Why, I have ever been opposed to this thing.
"What thing?
" Why, slavery ; but I wished to belong to -some
Church, and as there was none in my reach that
suited me better, I joined the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
" Well, if you believe slavery to be wrong, you
need not hold them, it does not hurt you.
"Well, but for me to support a thing I do not
believe in would not be right. And you can have
your privileges and let us have ours.
"Would you receive a slave-holder into your
Church.
" No, that is not our way.
" Well, would you receive a slave ?
" Yes, if we believed him to be a Christian.
"What ! receive a nigger and not a white man ?
That is a grand insult depriving us of our rights.
" Not at all. We do not say you shall not hold
slaves ; all we want is to keep clear of supporting it.
" Well, if that is your principle you ought to
leave the State.
" I was born and raised here pay for my privi-
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 93
leges under the law, and it is a hard case if I am
to l&gt;e deprived of them.
"(To S. W. L.) Well sir, where are you from.
u Randolph County.
" What business have you here?
" I thought I was a freeman.
" Sheriff. Well, but you are here violating o :r
laws.
" I am not convinced of having violated your laws.
" Do you ever preach ?
" No sir.
"Do you exhort?
" I never have.
"Do you ever hold meetings ?
" Xo sir.
" Squire Harris. Well, you pray for him some
times when he asks you to, don t you ?
" I have done the like. [What an incorrigible
sinner.]
" A voice. He came to see Crooks out ; we will
serve him the same as we do Crooks.
" During the foregoing there was much anger as
well as insolence exhibited.
" Well, Mr. Crooks, will you give us a promise
that you will leave the county and never preach
in it again ?
" That question has been answered. When you
found me, you found me a free man; when ^you
leave me, you will leave me either a free or
a dead one.
94 THE LIFE OF
"Christian. [to mob] Well, it will not do to
commence a thing- and not go through with it.
"After a few minutes consultation, four magis
trates ordered the Sheriff to take the preacher
to jail.
" The Sheriff. I command all present to assist
me.
" (To L.) Do you wish to go to jail ?
" I believe not.
" Orders are immediately obeyed.
" The Sheriff. We are not going to allow bail ;
this case is too bad for that.
" Well, Paul was imprisoned.
"Yes, but them times was different from these.
" And these times are no less different from
those.
"After ascending a pair of stairs.
" Sheriff. [to jailor.] Where shall I put him?
"Put him where you please, I will keep him where
you put him. [Hesitating a few minutes whether
to commit him to the dungeon or debtor s room.]
" Well we will put him in here, [the debtor s
room.]
" Introduced to Mr. Gad, a young man awaiting
his trial for assault and battery. How do you do,
Mr. Gad? A hissing sneer, such as devils use
when they receive to their dark abode alost spirit,
was. indulged in by the rabble.
" The doors are locked, Crooks is confined in a
gloomy prison.
" Now we have got him and we are going to keep
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 95
him, and North Carolina, not Montgomery County,
will have to pay the expenses.
" L. is left to choose between leaving the place in
fifteen minutes and going to jail. As he had noth
ing to detain him he chose to leave.
" The room in which the preacher was confined,
is about 9x13 and 7 leet to the ceiling above. His
fare, or" more properly his foul, was, for bedding,
some blankets directly from the dungeon, which
were ponderous with dust, and so offensive as to be
sickening; these spread upon the floor. His por
tion was two meals per day ; breakfast and dinner.
The food was passable, the floor was his table,
his finger served instead of a fork, and pocket-
knife for a table-knife; a plate and bowl his dishes.
His friends mi.u;ht furnish him with superior if they
saw proper, which they were going to do.
"A committee was appointed to read any and all
writings whicli passed between him and his friends,
who were not permitted to visit him.
" None but his enemies could enter that sanctum
sanctorum. The committee was further instructed
not to release their prisoner till he signed a bond
like McB ride s.
" Monday, A. M., the jailor, or rather his deputy,
who was one of the mob, and addicted to habits of
inebriation, entered the jail about 7 o clock.
" Good morning, Mr. Crooks.
" Good morning, sir.
" How does your pulse beat by this time in regard
to leaving?
" As it did on yesterday.
96 THE LIFE oP
" You had better leave ; they are determined you
shall not preach any more in the county.
" Ah, indeed !
"Nine o clock, some seven or eight persons among
whom were Mr. L., a merchant in the place, and
Mr. H., a Baptist, both slave-holders, and principal
men in the mob, visited Mr. Crooks ; were very
sorry to see him in that unhappy situation ; had
no doubt that every man of honorable feelings and
and honest heart was sorry.
" Mr. C. No doubt of it at all,
"You are being imposed upon by your professed
friends ; you are a stranger and they pretend they
will do a great many things ; but they are not to be
depended on 5 they are the very dregs of the coun
ty. You cannot get them to be any thing that ia
good ; those who are against you are the best men
of the county. They are determined you shall
preach no more in the county. There is no more
possibility of success j you can t get justice, and
you had as well attempt to set this jail on fire with,
cold water as to accomplish any gopcL
" You say I cannot get justice ; I will be convicted!
whether there is anything proven or not; will noli
men respect their oaths? If my friend* are as^
ignorant and wicked as you say, they are the very
people who need preaching. What I wish to know
is, what is my duty ; at present I do not think I
can ever say, I will never pleach, ia
County, or any where else..
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 97
" You will have to come to that at last. Well,
good morning,
(Jood morning.
"After remaining from Sabbath till Tuesday P. M,,
consulting his friends, who advised him to do all
his conscience would permit to get his liberty, and
being fully convinced that his rights would be pro
tected neither in the court, or out of it, he desired
an interview with the committee appointed by the
mob, which was readily granted.
" Dr. C. I am very sorry, Mr. Crooks, to see a
man of your profession and qualifications for use
fulness in your situation.
" To be taken from my work, my friends ; my
liberties taken from me, and I confined in this
gloomy cage, is sir, by no means congenial to my
feelings. But here I have been put, and here it
appears I must stay.
" Dr. C. Oh, we would be happy to release you;
it can be a pleasure to no one to see you here.
" Nor can it be a pleasure for me to remain ; nor
would I do so, were I permitted to leave upon con
ditions not involving a surrender of my liberties as
a man but more especially as a Christian minister.
" Of course we will require nothing unreasonable.
" It lias been done.
" Well, AVC will ask nothing that we Carolinians
consider unreasonable.
" I have been trying to look at things as they are,
and to invoke the Divine guidance, and have come
to the conclusion that I can be more extensively
98 THE LIFE OF
useful elsewhere than in this county, and hence to
leave, intending not to preach in this county
again.
" We were instructed to require a bond.
"jl do not believe the bond, if given, would be
worth a fig. Nor should I consider any instru
ment of writing more binding than my word.
" We believe you will do anything you promise,
but we must go according to orders.
" I should like to assist in wording the bond.
" We will write the bond and then you can see
if you can sign it.
"Very well.
Whereupon the following was drawn :
"Now the condition of the above bond is such :
That, whereas the above bounden Adam Crooks bas
been advocating and preaching abolition doctrine
contrary to our laws and institutions, and this hav
ing been made known to him and strictly enforced
on him to desist and leave this county ami never
again to preach in said county, and he having
agreed to do so * * * to be done in ten days.
". After the reading of which, Crooks stated that
two things must be changed before he could sign
the bond.
First : You say, I have advocated and preached
abolition doctrine contrary to our laws and institu
tions; laws must be struck out. I do not believe
I have violated your laws, and a man is judged
innocent till proven guilty.
Dr. C. I suppose he does not like to leave the
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 99
county under the stigma of having broken the law.
" That is not the point with me, doctor. It is a
matter of veracity. Not believing I have violated,
I cannot say I have.
" William McKay the [jailor, and he who
drew the bond.] We think you have.
" I do not ask you to say I have not, but to re
lieve me from saying I have.
" Being put to vote, all but one voted not to
have it erased.
" Well, said one, we can discuss the question.
" Crooks. The question being decided, is no
longer open for discussion ; to bring it before you
for that purpose a motion to reconsider must be
made by one who voted with the majority.
" The matter dropped here, and laws struck out.
" The second change which must be made before
I can sign this bond is, the conjunction " and "
must be erased, and the participle "intending" in
serted, so as to read 4 &lt;and leave this county in
tending never to preach in said county again, in
stead of "leaving this county and never," &lt;fcc.
" My reason for asking this is, because, as a min
ister called of God to preach his gospel, I have no
right to, nor can I say 1 never will preach any
where,
" Believing I can be more useful elsewhere than
in this county, it is my present intention to leave in
tending not to preach in it again; this I can say,
or have it written down. Duty may require, and
100 THE LIFE OF
things may so change as for it to be desirable that
I should preach in the county.
"This change also being made, the bond was
signed, and Crooks permitted to go forth again to
mingle in the mighty conflict which now convulses
the moral world. His heart was deeply pained to
leave the Church in Montgomery ; nor would he
have done so, only from a clear persuasion that he
would not have been permitted to be useful to it.
" I was released from confinement in the Mont
gomery jail, on the evening of the 17th of June.
While visiting and bidding adieu to the much
injured friends in that county, there was an in
stance of moral heroism which it affords pleasure to
record. After taking my leave of Brother Y.
Moore s family, I was called back to write in the
class-book, the name of his daughter C., who be
longed to the Methodist Episcopal Church, but
would continue such connection no longer joined
the Wesleyans, though deprived of the privilege of
preaching, and threatened to be of holding prayer
and class meetings.
" On the ensuing Saturday and Sabbath, I had
meeting at Bethel, in Randolph Co., a mile or two
from the Montgomery line. The congregations
were large, and appeared to be deeply afflicted ;
one brother joined the Church.
" A portion of the Montgomery mob, met some
distance from the meeting, but concluding they
were too few, disbanded. Being invited, I agreed
REV. ADAM CROOKS, 101
to attend a funeral in Davidson, to be preached
the following Sabbath, by B. L. and A. K., Baptist
ministers, I too preached after them, and before
the congregation dispersed. This meeting was to
be held in a neighborhood where I had never been.
Threats were made if Crooks came he should be
tarred and feathered inside and out, and such
like.
" The hour for meeting arrived, and with it an
overwhelming congregation ; two officers were on
the ground to see that the laws were respected,
and the rights of the writer protected. The mob
did not appear. While speaking from 2d Cor. 4th
and 5th, a glorious unction rested on the audience.
" By this time, a feeling of deep indignation and
strong opposition towards the conduct of the mobs
began to develop itself; indeed, ere I came out of
prison, without my agency, or even knowledge,
a company was being raised to get me out peacea
bly if they could, forcibly if they must. Forcible
resistance or violence I felt it my duty to discourage.
" Tuesday, had a meeting in Davidson, but about
a half mile from the Montgomery line. Violent
threats were made on both sides. One party swore
if Crooks attempted to preach so near to Mont
gomery, he should be taken back to Troy. Anoth
er, if they come for that purpose they should have
hot shot. This meeting also passed without
interruption.
"Next day, meeting at Union, in Randolph Coun
ty. There Z. N. made un effort to get up a riot*
102 THE LIFE OF
but failed. Thank God, his royal presence was
signally displayed.
" The following Saturday and Sabbath, meeting at
Franklinsville. Saturday a Doctor from Chatham
came to town for the purpose of raising a mob ; but
not succeeding, he came to meeting and appeared
during the sermon, to be much agitated with men
tal agony.
" From the 17th of June to this, the 6th of July,
I traveled alone. Brother William Vestal now,
became my traveling companion.
" Tuesday, we had a precious time at Freedom
Hill, in Chatham County. Two joined the Church,
whom may God bless. The house at this place
was threatened, but I guess it stands yet.
"Wednesday,! had the pleasure of meeting Broth
er Wilson, who is employed on Guilford circuit,
with whom we went to Cool Spring, in Randolph
County, preached a funeral sermon to a large and
deeply attentive auditory. The funeral was of a
child, a namesake.
" Thursday, Brother W. preached (I was sick and
unable to preach) at Craven s School-house, where
some months since my buggy was much abused.
A good sermon and a good meeting.
"Sabbath, meeting at Caraway. Text, "Finally,
brethren, farewell." A large and tender con
gregation.
" Report said, the Guilford mob was going to be
there, and join a wing from Randolph, but to the
credit of Randolph, I will say it was not disgraced
REV. ADAM CROOKS. fj 103
by a mob, nor did, it to any considerable extent,
sympathize with mobocracy. No interruption, ex
cept some conversation during worship outside of
the house.
" Wednesday evening, we went to Abel Guarde-
ner s in Guilford.
" Thursday, went to Jamestown. News is im
mediately conveyed to Greensboro, that A. Crooks
is at Jamestown. Here I saw and conversed for a
few minutes with G. C. Mendenhall, our counsel,
who informed me he could not get Me Bride s case
before the Supreme Court. One man gave me
quite a philipic, on learning thaft was a preacher,
and taking it for granted that I was a pro-slavery
one, but on learning who I was, offered his ser
vices to head a company of armed men, and pro
tect my person wherever I might wish to go. This,
of course, I did not wish to encourage.
" We, Vestal and myself, left town, the sun about
fifty minutes above the horizon ; thought of lodg
ing with Mr. B., about a mile from town, but con
cluded my property, if not my person, would be in
danger that distance from town ; went three miles
to Brother P s., did not yet feel satisfied, and trav
eled eight miles to Brother W. s, and in Randolph
staid till next evening, when we went to Wrn. L. s.
" Saturday morning, went eleven miles to T. P. s,
in the neighborhood of whom, on the Sabbath, I
organized a Church of ten members.
Monday, I went to the S. W. part of Randolph
County, to my post-office, and got a letter from
104 THE LIFE OF
Brother Bacon, stating that all things were peace
able on his charge, and that he expected to remain
another year, etc.
" Tuesday morning, early, received by private
conveyance a letter from G. C. Mendenhall, Esq.,
urging me for my own sake, for the sake of my
friends, the public peace and of religion, to desist
attending a Quarterly-meeting which was to bo
held at Union, Guilford County, the following
Saturday and Sabbath ; a meeting which that gen
tleman knew I designed attending; and if I enter
tained any doubts as to my duty, to come and see
him forthwith* If I desired he would come out
of Guilford, the county in which he lives, into Ran
dolph to see me, etc. I started immediately to see M.
u Mr. Mendenhall assured me that such was the ex
citement in the public mind, that my presence in
Union, on Saturday or the Sabbath would be the oc
casion of bloodshed, that there were two parties
equally determined, one that I should be arrested,
and the other that I should not. That no pains
had been spared in making preparations for my ar
rest, that the probability was, there would be thous
ands from Alamance, Chatham, Randolph, David
son, Forsyth, Rockingham and Guilford counties
for that purpose, that not a few looked upon the
conduct of the mob as contrary to law, in violation
of the Constitution and their rights as citizens,
which the Constitution and those laws were de
signed to protect, and who were determined to die
in their defense ; that these were not Wesley ans&gt;
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 105
and in order to prevent the most sanguinary scene
that has ever transpired in the county, it was the
wish and request of my friends for me not to come
to the meeting.
" I suggested that perhaps the Constitutionalists
might be dissuaded from their purpose to resist.
" All present agreeing with Mendenhall that if I
were at Union no earthly power could prevent the
effusion of blood, and that I ought not to go. I
gave Mr. Menderrhall leave to make it known that
I would not be at the meeting, and of my purpose
to start for Conference shortly.
" On receipt of this information, Mr. Gilmer de
clared I should not be interrupted according to law
or otherwise till the 10th of August, and that he
would make every possible effort to prevent the
meetings from being interrupted. In view of every
circumstance, I thought it would not be amiss to
let my whereabouts remain a secret, which I did,
I was confirmed in this belief by information from
a friend on Friday, that the day before, some men
came to Mr. L. s, inquired for Crooks, said they
had a warrant, and it was their business and duty
to arrest him, made search, and left " without aid
or comfort."
" Saturday morning, ten o clock, a company num
bering about three hundred, came from different
counties armed with clubs, pistols, dirks, etc., not
expecting, as they said, to find Crooks, but they
heard that Bacon would be there, and were re-
106 THE LIFE OP
solved that no Northern Abolitionist should preach
in the Country.
"A company was also there armed with guns, etc.
determined that Bacon, nor any orderly man, should
be abused if they could prevent it. Besides these
there was a large congregation who had come with
other intentions from different parts of the circuit.
" Before separating, the mob arranged to have a
circular printed and scattered broadcast, in which
they entered into a resolution to give their con
tinued and united efforts to expel ADAM CROOKS
and J. C. BACON from our State peaceably, if we
can, and forcibly, if we must. And to affix a reward
of two hundred dollars ($200.) for their apprehen
sion, or one hundred ($100.) for either of them, if
taken anywhere in the State, after the 5th of
August.
" On Monday morning I commenced getting ready
to depart for Conference ; took my buggy to R. s,
about five miles from Greensboro, to get it repair
ed ; staid at R. s till Tuesday, A. M. j then started
for my trunk in the south-west of Randolph. On
my return, when passing a house, I spied Mr. Stead,
making towards his barn, which is about eighty
yards from the road, as I came opposite which,
from behind a stack issued stones which fell around
but did not hit me. These were hard arguments,
but are never needed in defense of a good cause.
"When I landed in Guilford, I was informed that,
notwithstanding the mob had entered into resolu
tion to give me to the 5th of August to make my
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 107
arrangments to leave, and that I should not be in
terrupted according to law or otherwise, till after
the 5th, an effort was made to raise a company in
Greensboro, on Monday night, to take me at R. s,
and that on Tuesday morning a slave came to R. s
shop, inquired if he had a large two-horse carriage
for sale, a thing never made in that country unless
ordered. Seeing me, the boy asked if that was
Crooks ; was answered in the affirmative. About
an hour after, the officer in company with the slave,
his master, and others, rode up to R. s, inquired if
Crooks was there. William R. s son answered,
" He is not," This seemed to cause great; surprise ;
and the officer manifesting a disposition to search
the house, was told if he attempted it without a
search-warrant he must kill or be killed. He did
not insist. William told the truth; I was not
there, being on my way after my trunk ; a happy
escape from officers of injustice, while disappoint
ment was the reward of their faithfulness to their
own resolution.
" The object in getting out the warrant was not to
give me the benefit of a trial according to law, but
as a pretext why I should be taken without resist
ance, and when they once had me in their power,
they could do as they pleased with me. Some
threatened to hang, and others to tie a rope around
my neck, fasten me to a buggy, and take me where
I could be transported to an uninhabited island,
from whence I would never return to North Caro
lina, No doubt they intended not to let me leave
108 THE LIFE OF
without at least entering into bonds not to return,
But they did not get me, and may I not say with
the Psalmist, Bj this I know thou fayorest me, be
cause mine enemies do not triumph over me.
" Saturday evening the second of August, left
B s., a distance of about nine miles, for my buggy;
got to R s. by twelve at night, and deeming it un
safe to remain, accompanied by my friends, I started
for J. Stanley s, a distance of thirteen miles, where
we landed all in safety at break of day, and from
which on the morning of 4th., of this instant, I
started for this place, where I landed after a lonely
journey of five hundred miles, performed in eleven
and a half days and was cheered by the smiles of
my relatives and friends, among whom, besides my
parents, and brothers and sisters, I will name Rev.
J. Phillips, Rev. J. McBride, and Rev. A. R. Demp
ster.
" As this letter is already too lengthy, I forbear
indulging remarks as to the happy effects the con
duct of the mobs has had in directing the public
eye to the enormities of a system which has long
warred against the throne of God, and rights of
man. They intended to prevent investigation, but
God, who causes the wrath of man to praise him,
and taketh the wise in their own craftiness, has
caused it to have the very opposite effect. Never
did the Carolinians think as much on that subject
as they now do. Never did they hate Slavery as
they do now.
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 109
"I entertain the confident hope, that ere long&lt;
American Slavery will expire amid a nation s joy."
OBSERVATIONS.
Mr. Crooks finished his Conference year fully.
During all his difficulties, he never neglected one
of his own appointments. Those meetings he was
persuaded not to attend, were upon brother Mc-
Bride s work. He had numerous calls, which he
did not and could not obey. During those four
years of arduous labor and almost constant danger,
his mother fasted twice a week and prayed for the
advancement of the cause, and the preservation of
her son. He left North Carolina with sorrow and
sadness, feeling that the friends of Jesus and suffer
ing humanity were left as sheep without a shep
herd, and among wolves. He left many warm
personal friends. Among them he counted one of
the lawyers employed in his trial, George Meiiden-
hall, Esq., and his estimable wife. They were ex
tensive slave-holders. Their slaves came into the
family by a former wife. The present Mrs. Men-
denhall, was a Friend, and opposed to chattalizing
human beings. As soon as they could do so they set
their slaves all free. Their riches consisted in
slaves and land. The earnings of the slaves were
carefully saved, and as soon as enough money was
accumulated, a company was started for Ohio and
Indiana. Thus they liberated nearly eighty thou
sand dollars s worth. They were years in doing
the work, and it was not all accomplished when the
110 THE LIFE OF
South seceded at the commencement of our last
war. The last load was ready and started, hoping
to be allowed to cross the lines, but they were sent
back. They were in the care of Mrs. Mendenhall.
We received a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Menden
hall, when we were living on Delaware Circuit.
The journey from the South was made in carriages
and covered wagons. When at our house they
had about twenty slaves, old and young, with them.
Several years before the work was all accomplished,
Mr. Mendenhall was drowned while attempting to
ford a swollen stream. When found his arms were
thrown upon the bank, and in his hands he held
his satchel containing manumission papers for all
his slaves, who were still in the South. The fami
ly were very great sufferers during the war. When
Mr. Crooks bade them farewell, to come North,
Mrs. Mendenhall placed in his hands a paper, con
taining the following poem, beautifully engrossed.
May He whose care
Surrounds the little sparrow when it falls
Who hears the nestling raven when it calls,
Still prompt thy prayer !
For He will own
All that His holy Spirit inly breathes
That through the windings of the heart enwreathea
A sigh a groan.
Look round and see
The passive dew-drop on the lily rest ;
The active lightning flash from east to west ;
So may st thou be.
REV. ADAM CROOKS. Ill
So be thou taught
* Instant; in season, out of season" too,
Vocal like thunder, silent like the dew
With blessing fraught.
! let thy will,
Thy all of self upon the cross be slain,
That all of death may die, that Christ may reign,
And man t be still !
Words may not tell
Not e en the unseen, silent, parting tear,
How earnestly we bless thee brother, dear !
Farewell! Farewell!
D. E. M.
Guilford, N. C., 7th mo., 1851.
FURTHER ACTIVITIES.
The first year after his return, he was appointed
to Zanesville Charge. As the membership was
small, they were riot able to support even a " single
man." He told them if they would board him, he
would teach school, in order to earn enough to
defray his other expenses. He commenced a pri
vate school. Yery soon he gained such a reputa
tion for managing bad boys, that his school was
largely composed of boys who had been expelled
from the public schools of the city. He was very
much interested in the teacher s work.
In August, 1852, he was appointed preacher in
charge of Medina, or what was called the Granger
and Hunting-ton Circuits. Rev. George W. Bai-
num was his assistant. He was also elected one
112 THE LIFE OF
of the delegates to the General Conference, which
held its session in Syracuse, within a few weeks.
The appointments on his charge were many
miles apart, making long, hard rides. His home
was at River Styx, Medina County, in the family of
brother Turner. He could be there but little, as
the work on the different parts of the field re
quired his presence. During the Winter, they
held several protracted meetings, with good suc
cess. At Lodi there were numerous accessions,
and in the Spring following, a new edifice was
built.
HIS MARRIAGE.
The third of May, 1853, he was married to Eliz
abeth Willits, student and teacher of Leoni Insti
tute. In a book presented to his bride, these lines
are written :
A HUSBAND S GIFT
TO
MRS. E. W. CROOKS,
Presented on our wedding-day,
Which as you see,
Is the third of May,
Eighteen fifty- three.
And as my parents say
The same is my l&gt;irth-day,
In eighteen twenty -four.
Which makes me one score,
Plus nine, and no more.
As the gentle shovrer
Descending from above,
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 113
Cheers the bright May-flowers ;
So shall I, my dear,
Seek thy heart to cheer
By kindnesses of love.
For eight years he had been a traveling minister
without home or home-comforts, literally fulfilling
the injunctions "Take neither purse nor scrip,
for your journey." "Eating what is set before you
asking no questions." Sometimes faring sumptu
ously, and sometimes otherwise; meanwhile labor
ing hard in the vineyard, and resting wherever
night overtook him.
In speaking of this experience he said, " He
learned to call each sweet spot a home, and
every man a brother." He always said he never
felt like complaining, for he fared better than his
Master, who had not where to lay his head. He al
ways found a friendly roof to shelter him. Though
at times very poor in this world s goods, yet the
kind Father always provided for his necessities.
At the Conference held August, 1853, he was ap
pointed to Huntington Circuit alone. Here, the
last of September, his own humble home was first
established. Here his own family altar was first
erected, upon which ever since, continually have
been offered sacrifices to the Most High the fire
upon that altar never grew dim. The house-keep
ing was commenced, as a light purse would dictate
very plainly. It was a settled principle, " There
shall be no debts." If there was not ready money
to get all we wante/1, we denied ourselves, or waited
114 THE LIFE OF
until means were given. He remained on this cir
cuit two years. Quite a number were added unto
the Lord, and a new church-edifice was built at
Huntington. We found many devoted friends;
among them were Timothy Burr and wife, of pre
cious memory. It was hard to leave them ; but as
there was some difficulty in supplying the work of
the Conference, and this Charge could be supplied
by those who lived near, and did not wish to move,
we were appointed to Delaware Circuit. Here
three years were spent pleasantly, and with profit
Several new appointments added to the field, and
some of the old ones were greatly enlarged.
TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS .
At Betmington, the house of brother Marcus
Philips was used for service. The congregation
was small, but they had precious meetings. Not
far away, at the corners, stood an old, dilapidated
Methodist Episcopal meeting-house. There had
been some difficulty. The ministers had left,
taking the church records even the class-book.
For eighteen months the house had been opened
only for funeral services. Some of the Christians
in the neighborhood sent an invitation to Mr.
Crooks to come and preach to them. A pro
tracted meeting was held, souls were saved, Chris
tians were encouraged. By request, the appoint-
ment at brother Philip s was changed to the church.
The membership greatly increased. By this time,
the Methodist Episcopal brethren thought the peo
ple ought to be looked after. They sent a preacher
REV. ADAM CROOKS.
once in two weeks, and where there was no
service at all, now the pulpit was supplied every
Sabbath. They reorganized their class, and some
thought should close their doors upon us ; but we
had sympathy of the community, and they waited
until they thought it would be safe. When there
was a change in the pastor, they shut their house
against us. The result was, we were able to
to build a beautiful new church.
A meeting of great interest was held in a new
pla^.c, (Fairview,) lasting seven weeks. There
was a Presbyterian church in the village, and not
far away a Baptist, but no Methodist. There had
been no revival there for many years. Eighty
professed to find the Savior. There was scarcely
a family in the whole neighborhood, but were
subjects of the Spirit s influence. There were
many heads of families. Many homes were
changed. The world had held sway, but now
God was worshiped. Fourteen were sprinkled,
and seventeen immersed in one day. A class was
organized, and a church built. Some of those
brought to Jesus then, are now singing his praise
around " The great white throne on high."
The woodland home of the Rev. Edward Smith
was near Bloomfield, where his remains are now
interred. We visited him -several times. During
his last sickness, we spent three days with him.
He sent word to the brethren, that " If I die of
this attack, all is well." He died July 6th, 1856.
Mr. Crooks preached his funeral discourse from
116 THE LIFE OF
2 Timothy iv : 6, 7, 8. The sermon was repeated
by request during Conference, at the memorial
service. In his death, the cause of reform lost one
of its most fearless advocates, and the Church of
God one of its strongest pillars, Mr. Crooks was
one of the delegates to the General Conference
held in Cleveland, in the Fall of 1856.
At the Conference of 1857, Mr. Crooks was
Chairman of Committee on Reforms. This is what
he wrote then, eighteen years ago.
ON SLAVERY.
"Resolved, That all our former declarations of hatred
and opposition to the system of American Slavery, are by
us most emphatically re-affirmed. We still believe slavery
to be evil, and only evil, opposed to the well-being of the
enslaver, as well as the enslaved ; opposed to the prosperi
ty of the nation, to the spread of the Christian religion, and
to the salvation of men.
Resolved, That there is a oneness of sentiment, on
the subject of slavery, among the Wesleyan Methodist
Churches j that we have peace in all our borders, while
other denominations are convulsed throughout, in conse
quence of this accursed system having a place within thei r
pales.
Resolved, That we deeply sympathize with our much
beloved brother, John G. Fee, of Kentucky, in the recent
outrages that have been committed upon his person ; and
shall most earnestly pray the God of Daniel to keep him
from the power of the enemies of truth and righteousness,
while thus pursuing his labors of love, in planting the
standard- of the Redeemer in that land of bondage.
Resolved, That the recent decision of the Supreme
Court of the United States, in the Dred Scott Case, in
which it is declared that l the Negro has no rights that the
REV. ADAM CROOKS.
white inau is bound to respect/ is a disgrace and a burn
ing shame to the nation, at war with the Christian religion,
and strikes a blow at the rights of man, and should there
fore be disregarded and scouted by every lover of the Bible.
ON SECRET SOCIETIES.
Resolved, That we will firmly maintain our disciplinary
rule against the admission or retention in our Churches of
persons holding connection with secret oath-bound socie
ties.
Resolved, That we believe the principle of secrecy, as
developed in the various secret organizations of the day,
to be fraught with evil, dangerous to political purity, to
national virtue, to the rights of man, inimical to the cause
of liberty to the oppressed millions of our land, and above
all, opposed to the spread of that light which is the life of
men.
ON TEMPERANCE.
Resolved, That we are as much as ever convinced of
the great evil of the sale and use of ardent spirits as a
beverage And
That we will oppose it in every reasonable, and lawful
way. We will lecture, preach, pray, and vote against it,
and recommend to all those over whom we may be able to
exert an influence, to forsake, and oppose these evils."
About this time be furnished a number of articles
for the WESLEYAN, on " True Politics ;" also, took
some part in a discussion upon the question, " Is
the Twenty-first Section of Discipline, on Secret
Societies, law ?" He was present at the General
Conference when this subject was discussed, passed,
and by a majority declared to be law. He took the
position in his argument, that if it was not law, we
should spend our time and talents in making it
such, not in attempting to prove it a nullity.
118 THE LIFE OF
The next Conference year was spent on Licking
Circuit. The friends were very pleasant, but
during the Winter, the Small Pox raged in the
village where we resided. Great fright prevailed,
and there would have been great suffering, only
that Mr. Crooks, (who had this disease while in
Allegheny City) spent a part of each day visiting
the sick, burying the dead, and encouraging the
living. A number said they believed they should
have died of fright, if it had not been for his
words of comfort and hope. As a matter of
course he could not attend his appointments, for
the inhabitants of the country and towns adjacent,
would not attend Church. Thus the year passed
without any marked revival, yet the children of
God seemed to gain strength and grace. During
this year, Mr. Crooks spent all his leisure time in
reveiwing President Finney s Systematic Theology.
Afterwards, parts of this review were given in the
WESLEYAN. He has since said that " this close
consecutive thought was a school to fit him for his
work years after."
LABORS AT CLEVELAND, OHIO.
In the fall of 1859, he left Licking Circuit to
become pastor of the Church in Cleveland, Ohio;
five years were spent with this good people;
true hearts were found noble men and women ;
those who for the right and truth were willing to
be " little and unknown," if the cause of God and
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 119
humanity could only be advanced. For years,
this Church had stood a moral " beacon light" to
all other Churches in the city. Here the first
church edifice was built by the " people called
Wesleyans." When it required moral stamina to
bear the name Abolitionist, here was a band of
braves, who boldly flung to the breeze the banner
of liberty to all alike.
Soon after we arrived in Cleveland, John Brown
made his raid into Virginia, was taken prisoner,
and the 2d day of December, 1859, witnessed the
death of this earnest friend of enslaved humanity.
We assisted in the preparations for appropriate
memorial services. The following is an extract
from a daily paper of the times :
"IN ME MORI AM.
EXERCISES COMMEMORATIVE OF THE 8AC2IF.CE
OF
JOHN BROWN."
11 Across Superior Street, from the Bermet House to the
Rouse s Block, WHS stretch a banner deeply bordered with
black, with the words- of Brown, I do not ihiiik I can
better honor the cause I love than to die for it. 7
" Several places of business iu the city were closed dur
ing the day.
" Melodeon Hall was draped in mourning for the meet
ing held there in the evening. The stage was hung with
heavy folds of crape caught up with white rosettes.
Around the gallery were folds and festoons of crape with
white rosettes. Festoons of crape hung from the walls,
the girders and the chandeliers, while the pillars were
wound with the insignia of mourning.
120 THE LIFE OP
"Over the center of the stage hung a large and fine
photograph of the Hero of Harper s Ferry, encircled with
a wreath. Above this was the motto :
" AMARICUS HUMANIS GENERIS.
"On the left of the picture was John Brown, the
Hero of 1859, and on the right He being dead, yet
speaketh. Still further to the right were the following
The end crowns the work. If I had interfered in be
half of the great, the wealthy and the wise, no one would
have blamed me. John Brown to the Court of Virginia ;
and on the loft the following Remember them that are
in bonds as bound with them. His noble spirit makes
despots quail, and freedom triumph.
" The whole was arranged with fine effect, and showed
that the ladies had been in no wise inattentive.
" THE MEETING. The number of persons present, and
the character of the meeting is stated as follows by the
Cleveland Morning Leader :
" As early as half -past six o clock the dense throng
crowding into the "Melodeon" testified the universal interest
felt in the nature and objects of the meeting, and at seven
o clock there was not a vacent seat in the Hall, and the
standing places were all occupied. There were not less
than 1400 persons in the Hall, about one -third of whom
were ladies. The strictest attention was given to the
exercises throughout deep, earnest attention.
" J. H. W. Toohey called the meeting to order, and
introduced tl-e Rev. Mr. Brewster, of the Weslejan
Church, who read the following passages of Scripture
" Epistle of James, v : 1 to 18; First Timothy, iv : 10 to
18 ; First Corinthians, xv : 19 to 34."
"The Throne of Grace was then addressed by Rev. Mr.
Crooks, in an eloquent .prayer, acknowledging the hand
of God in all the events of life, arid his dealings with the
children of men. We, as a nation, the ministers, the
Churches and people, are guilty of the crime that has
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 121
"this day been done, in the execution of him who, respond
ing to his promptings of conscience, endeavored to set the
bondmen free. He closed with the prayer that all pres
ent might so live that they might die in the hope of the
Gospel. "
Mr. Crooks was one of the speakers of the eve
ning. He also prepared a sermon to be delivered
to his own people the next Sabbath evening, but
was invited to use the hall, which he did. There
was a full house, and close attention. His text
was &lt; He that departeth from evil maketh him
self a prey" Isaiah lix: 15. From this sermon,
the following are a few extracts :
Again, how are we to honor Lafayette, who, from pure
and unselfish devotion to the holy cause of human free
dom, left the security and quietude of a princely home,
came to a land not his own, and threw himself into all the
dangers and hardships of tent and field, that he might be
stow upon an oppressed people, the priceless boon of free
dom ; and then brand with "traitor" an American citi
zen for a devotion no less pure, and a bravery and a mag
nanimity equally exalted ? Why cry a crown for one, and
a halter for the other? Or, how are we to transmit to
posterity, as worthy of imperishable glory, the names of
Eaton and Decatur, who displayed such distinguished
bravery for the rescue of enslaved American citizens, from
Tripolitan masters ; and then, upon the same page, seek
to couple the name of Brown with lasting infamy and
substantial disgrace ? Or, how lavish our sympathies
upon Poland, Hungary, or any of the European nations
struggling for freedom, and then unsparingly ceusure
Brown for his more practical sympathy for the oppressed
millions of onr land ?"
*##* * * * *
6
122 THE LIFE OF
" He had seen that the purpose of the party dominant
in the nation is to, as far as possible, enlarge the area of
slavery, legislate directly for its protection in the Territo
ries, and to re-open the piratical foreign traffic in human
beings. He had seen the ermine of the Supreme Federal
Judges stained by a decision which would have shocked
the moral sensibility of even the Jefferies making the
administration of justice depend upon complexion ! He
had seen that slavery is an element of discord and strife
in the bosom of this Nation, and the mortal foe to the
prosperity and even the perpetuity of this Confederacy.
He had seen that there is no political party, of any con
siderable numerical strength, which even professes to
seek the overthrow of this monster iniquity. And last,
but not least, he saw that the vile man -thief enjoys unob
structed access, to even the "high places" of our popular
Zion, and that the oil of our incense is largely mixed with
the sweat, blood and tears of the poor oppressed. Know
ing and seeing all this as a last forlorn hope, he and his
less than Spartan band, made deadly assault upon the
reyriad robbers of their brothers right. And, like Leoni-
das, he fell a sacrifice to his native bravery and noble love
of liberty; and like him, he fell to be loved and honored.
Henceforth let Harper s Ferry be styled the Thermopylae,
and John Brown the Leonidas of this nation.
"But the truth, alike shameful and apparent, is unde
niable ; that it is owing to the pro-slavery character and
action of this Government, together with the faithlessness
of the popular Churches, that John Brown, and his unfor
tunate coadjutors died upon a Virginia scaffold.
# # # # #####
But American Slavery cannot be eternal. God s justice
will not sleep forever; and God is against slavery. His
word is against it ; His government, both moral and provi
dential, is against it ; the prayers of his people are against
it; the common, unperverted conscience of mankind is
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 123
against it: and the cry of the poor oppressed is going up
continually against it. It is doomed to a speedy, and,
possibly, violent dissolution.
" The iron chariot of oppression is not always to roll its
ponderous cylinders over the prostrate but sacred form of
humanity, squeezing hissmg streams of blood from the
life-cavities of her great heart. God is already shaking
the nation, and the pro-slavery Churches, from center to
circumference. Speaking from his throne, ere long, he
will say, as anciently : I have seen ; I have seen the
afflictions of my people, and am come down to deliver
them. 7
"And when that time comes, as come it must, the
names of Pierce, Douglass, Buchanan, and H. A. Wise,
together with all those of the servile tools of the Slave-
power, will be but synonymous with cruelty, infamy, 7
and " misanthropy," and suggestive of whatsoever is
odious; while that of John Brown, associated with the
names of those who have been distinguished for fidelity
alike to God and humanity, will be resplendent with the
imperishable honors of Corinthian Laurel."
At no time during his labors in Cleveland was
there a great revival; yet there was a steady
growth, both in spirit and in numbers. Souls were
converted, and there were quite a number of ac
cessions to the Church. The church-edifice was
removed, repaired and refurnished. The congre
gation was much increased. All seemed to have
renewed zeal to labor for God. A prayer and
class meeting was established in the suburbs
where a number were converted. An appoint
ment, five or six miles in the country, for preaching
Sabbath afternoons, was added to the work.
Several of the early supporters of this Church
124 THE LIFE OP
have received their " summons to the mansions
above." They have laid aside the weapons of
warfare, and have gone to that home where the
" wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are
at rest." Their record is on high. In that great
day of final account, Jesus shall say to them :
" Well done. Enter thou into the joy of thy
Lord."
During our residence here, our Nation became
involved in our last " terrible war." All loyal
hearts were burdened for the salvation of our
Country. Our sympathies were greatly enlisted
for our " brave boys in blue," and for their dear
ones at home. A number of those dear to us
were called to sacrifice their loved ones for their
Country s good. With aching hearts and tearful
eyes we carried them to their last resting place.
Many tokens of kindness and sympathy were
received from the friends here, and it was with
sorrowful hearts we left them, knowing little of
the trials, burdens, and conflicts before us ; but the
path of duty seemed to lead us away.
In July, 1863, Mr. Crooks received the follow
ing letter from Adrian College I
ADRIAN, Mich., July 3, 1863.
REV. A. CROOKS, CLEVELAND, OHIO :
Dear Brother: At the late Annual Meeting of the
Trustees of Adrian College, you were regularly elected to
the honorary degree of " Master of Arts," together with
Rev. L. C. Matlack, W. W. Lyle, and Jas. J. White, of
Cincinnati, Ohio, which was duly announced by the
President at our recent Commencement.
REV. ADAM CROOKS, 125
The Board is pleased to tender this expression of es
teem for yourself personally, and to convey to the public
this assurance of confidence in your literary and moral
standing in society. Respectfully and Truly Yours,
JOHN McELDOWNEY, Sec y.
ELECTION TO THE EDITORSHIP.
The General Conference, held at Adrian, Mich
igan, June, 1864, elected Mr. Crooks Editor of
the AMERICAN WESLEYAN. Had he felt free to
follow his own preferences, he would have still re-
mained a pastor. His heart was in that work. He
had been told that in all probability he would be
one of the candidates for the office of Editor. He
did not believe it would result in his election. Among
his last words, as he left for the Conference, were
these : " Do not feel troubled about this matter,
for I am confident that there are those who will
stand before me in the minds of our people. There
is no danger of my being called upon to occupy
that position." He stated to the Conference his
preference to remain in the pastoral work. But
the Conference decided to elect him Editor. He
always made it a principle to follow the leadings
of Providence to walk in the path opened before
him. He accepted the position, returned to Cleve
land, and commenced arranging his affairs, prepa
ratory to leaving, as he was needed at the office
immediately. His Church and congregation were
wholly unprepared for this change. Some of them
felt that it ought not so to be j and to human eyes it
126 THE LIFE OF
seemed to require great self-sacrifice. The Church
was in a prosperous condition, spiritually and tem
porally. The house of worship had been put in
good repair. All was pleasant between pastor and
people. " Peace was in all her borders, and pros
perity within her walls." But God, who sees the
end from the beginning, and judges righteously,
knows what is best for his children, and where he
can use them for his own glory, and the upbuilding
of his cause and kingdom on the earth. It is his
prerogative to guide, and ours to follow.
June 23d, he left Cleveland to commence his
duties in the office of the AMERICAN WESLEYAN, in
Syracuse, N. Y., and on the 28th of June appeared
the following :
" SALUTATORY."
" In entering upon the untried duties of his of
fice, the * new Editor will be expected to state, at
least in general outline, his views of the objects to
be secured, and of the principles and policy which
should govern, in the performance of those duties.
As this expectation is most reasonable, it shall be
met at once. Then,
" 1. Being the organ of a Connection of Chris
tian Churches, tine primal objects of the AMERICAN
WESLEYAN should be the success of Christian
enterprise the spread of scriptural holiness,
over these lands - consisting in piety and purity,
correct faith, genuine experience, and correspond
ing practice. i Holiness unto the Lord should ra
diate from ever issus.
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 127
"2. As the organ of the Wesleyan Methodist
Connection of America, the paper should more im
mediately serve the interests of this particular
Christian denomination, promoting its peace, puri
ty, unity and prosperity, advocating its doctrines,
propogating its principles, and chronicling its
triumph. Yet at the same time, as a public re
ligious journal, it will take pleasure in recording
the acheivements, moral and spiritual, of sister
denominations. It should be a medium for the
diffusion of general Christian intelligence,
" 3. The organ of a denomination eminently
reformatory, as heretofore, so in time to come, the
AMERICAN WESLEYAN should speak no ambiguous
language respecting the great reforms of the day.
As our Connectional banner battle-torn though it
be it must continue to float from the foremost and
highest battlements of Zion, defiant of all sin, as
when first given to the breeze. These .are not the
times in which to haul down our flag, use Quaker
ordnance, fire-blank cartridges or offer truce or
amnesty to rebels in arms against any claim of
God or interest of humanity. Slavery must not
be allowed to revivify. Its utter extinction must
be rendered certain. Unrelenting warfare must be
waged against the monster iniquity Intemperance.
The spirit of violence must be rebuked and checked
the arbitrament of the sword, treated as a ca
lamity finding its dreadful necessity only in sin,
and to be remedied by the Gospel ; and all unfruit-
128 THE LIFE OF
ful works of darkness must be &lt; reproved/ AH
this means work and conflict. The apostolic or
der, First pure, then peaceable/ is not to be es
teemed either obsolete or inappropriate.
" Most obviously, dissensions and needless divi
sions among Christians are to be deplored as de
pleting, uneconomical and schismatic. From the
first, our existence as a distinct organization was
felt to be a painful necessity. Union, both in fact
and form, among the disciples of one Lord/ is to-
be encouraged and promoted. Yet it should not
be forgotten that true Christian unity the unity
of the spirit is accordant with, and tolerant of
variety, and hence, in some sense, of dissimilarity.
At the same time it should be remembered, that
any real union between moral opposites is not pos
sible; and if even possible, yet not desirable.
Our motto shall be,- Union at the expense of right,
never ; but for the sake of right, always and every
where.
" The loyalty of the AMEKICAN WESLEYAN shall
be unconditional. Committed to the support of
no political party, merely as such, it shall yet not
be indifferent to &lt; that part of ethics which con
sists in the regulation and government of a nation
or state for the promotion of its safety, peace and
prosperity; comprehending the defense of its ex
istence and rights against foreign control and con
quest, the augmentation of its strength and re
sources, and the protection of citizens in their
rights, with the preservation and improvment of
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 129
their morals. (See Webster s Definition of Politics.)
It shall oppose as destructive of the interests ot
the Nation, all corruption, whether of private mor
als or in public life ; and inculcate, as a Christian
duty, the exercise of the elective franchise for the
elevation to positions of honor and trust l men
who fear God and hate covetousness. It shall
seek to fan the fires of intelligent patriotism
strengthen the hands of the Government in its ef
forts to suppress rebellion ; and especially a re
bellion having fur its object the establishment of a
government, the chief corner stone of which, is
the iniquitous system of human chattelization. It
shall denounce, as taritors to God and enemies of
mankind, all, of every latitude, who either openly
or covertly sympathize with the present rebellion.
And it shall seek to nerve the heart and arm of
the living, and speak words of comfort to the
dying patriot soldier; and bestow upon his friends
at home, its warmest and most Christian sympa
thies. Most happily, in all these respects, the
Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America, is a
unit. Thank God, there is not a traitor in the
entire body.
" The principles governing in the composition of
the AMERICAN WESLEYAN, shall be such as most
fully accord with the foregoing objects.
" Its spirit and policy shall be liberal. Both
sides of all questions proper to be considered
shall be heard at reasonable length. This being
6*
130 THE LIFE OF
the case, the Editor is not to be held responsible
for any sentiment which he does not pertonally en
dorse. Christian courtesy must characterize style
and matter. Investigation, rather than disputation,
shall be encouraged. General interests, and not
individual wishes, are to be consulted in determin
ing what shall be admitted and what excluded.
The rule shall be to disallow the discussion of all
merely local and personal differences. The door
may not readily open for the admission of careless
writers. Records of grace victorious, whether as
seen in marked conversions, beautiful lives, or
triumphant deaths, are insured a hearty welcome.
" It is with great diffidence and self-distrust
that the new Editor assumes the duties and re
sponsibilities to which he has been called, and es
pecially so, in view of the corps of able editors
preceding; Scott, Lee, Matlack, andPrindle. But
when he remembers that the inexperience in the
chair is fully atoned by the large experience of our
excellent Agent. Bro. Prindle ; that, adopting mili
tary phraseology, he is to be supported by such
staff officers as Dr. Lee, W. W. Crane, W.H.Brew-
ster, L. C. Matlack, W. W. Lyle, and H. B-
Knight, as Corresponding Editors, together with
many competent field officers in the form of con
tributors ; and that his readers are too intelligent
and liberal minded to either require or expect per
fection in any human production, his heart is more
than doubly assured. For mere frigid critics, he has
neither fear nor fellowship, but only indifference. He
fcEV. ADAM CROOKS. 131
fcan promise only to do Ms best to send to its readers
the AMERICAN WESLEY AN laden with &lt; food con
venient to make them intelligent, hopeful, happy,
zealous, efficient, and mature Christians. Then,
trusting not to his own, but to Divine wisdom, and
asking and expecting the sympathies, counsels, and
above all, prayers of his readers, the new Editor
assumes the duties and responsibilities of his
office."
The work was new, and his duties arduous from
the first; for in connection with his editorial
work, he had all the proofs of the two papers to
read and correct. Very soon calls to attend Quar
terly Meetings were received, to which he respond
ed. He and Dr. Prindle together supplied the
pulpit at Seneca Falls, for a number of months.
His heart was alive to the condition of our
Nation, For years, dangers had threatened on
every hand; traitors were at home and abroad,
Only confidence in the wisdom and power of that
God who never fails, kept up his courage .From an
editorial, published July 20, 1864, we give a few
leading heads :
"THE DEMAND OF THE TIMES."
" 1. A primary demand of the times is, that the
masses be made to comprehend the events tran
spiring, &lt;to know in this our day, the things
which make for our peace. In times of such
weighty significance, this is often important even
in a Monarchical Government ; in a Eepublic, it is
absolutely indispensable. Ours is a government
132 THE LIFE OP
of the people, and the hands of the people must be
made skillful to guide the Ship of State amid rocks?
and darkness and tempest. They should be made
intelligent not only in history, and the philosophy
of history, but in the rich and deep philosophy of
the eventful present. They should be made intelli
gent as to the wicked moral forces which have
caused this rebellion, the hellish purposes of its
guilty leaders ; and its inevitable results if success
ful, upon their position, pecuniary and social, and
even liberties for generations to come. And that
the people may be thus instructed, the very air
should be rendered vocal with truth uttered from
street, and cottage, and counter, and platform, and
pulpit, and press. This is no time for either indif
ference, silence, or inaction.
" 2. The popular conscience needs to be enlight
ened. The nation needs to be taught the inviola
bility of the Divine law that though hand joined
with hand, the wicked shall not go unpunished f
and that no nation can long survive persistent de
parture from the eternal principles of rectitude.
Upon this subject -we must have &lt; precept upon
pi ecept, precept upon precept ; line upon line, line
upon line," until this truth permeates the national
heart, and becomes a sovereign sentiment.
" 3. The times imperatively demand that posi
tions of public trust be filled with men of incor-
nij: ible patriotism, broad, enlightened and stales-
iwi-like views, and of inflexible integrity; while
all unprincipled demagogues and political gam-
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 133
biers, of whom it may well be said, as of Leo X.,
that they l get into office like a fox, rule like a lion,
and die like a dog/ should have their part in the
place kept for the burial of strangers. They
should be esteemed the Nation s worst enemies,
and treated accordingly.
" 4. An all-ruling and undying patriotism, a
patriotism which endweih all things, is another re
quisite of the times. The rebellion with which the
Nation is grappling in life struggles is of unprece
dented proportions. Hundreds of thousands of
lives ; husbands, fathers, sons, brothers and hun
dreds of millions in money have already been given,
and the end is not yet. Hundreds of thousands more
of husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers, and hun
dreds of millions more of money may yet be re
quired before we realize the right solution of the
grave problem If the Nation is to live ; if Free
dom is to die ! Heaven grant that our integrity to
the interests involved may abide the seven-fold
heated furnace.
" 5. The times demand a United North. " Di
vide, and conquer was the motto which shaped
the policy of ancient Rome. United, Carthage
and Syracuse would have been invincible against
Rome, but enemies, and divided, they fell victims
to their common foe. For the last fifty years, the
South has practiced this policy against the North*
and in the interests of slavery. The political
parties have unwittingly been our Carthage and
Syracuse.
134 THE LIFE OP
" There are those in our midst, whose names
need not be written, but who share the protection
of our laws, enjoy the immunities and benefits of
our liberal institutions, and subsist upon the
bounties of our plentiful Country, who nevertheless,
like ingrates, prove themselves enemies in this, the
hour of our Country s peril. To us, these are far
from being an element of strength, but like others,
they can expect to stand only upon their good
behavior. For the Nation s sake, for the sake of
the blood and treasure already expended; for the
sake of coming generations, and for the sake of
the dearest interests of humanity, { as far as lieth in
us, let there be a United North. Let not the pro
phetic words of our Washington be unheeded, that
United, we stand, divided, we fall. 1
" 6. Another demand of the times is continued lib
erality. We say continued* for in the past, in the
form of the Sanitary and Christian Commissions,
and the numerous other concerted and individual
schemes for the protection and comfort of our
brave soldiers, say nothing of what has been done
for their families at home, there has been a munifi
cence of liberality displayed, for which the history
of the world has no parallel. This should not be
allowed to suffer any abatement.
" 7. The times demand an unfaltering faith in
God, and in the final triumph of the right. l This
is the victory that overcometh, even your faith,
In the absence of faith there can bejieither cour
age, nor purpose, nor endurance nor efficiency.
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 135
The times require that in all these respects we
show ourselves men.
"8. Our manifold sins of profanity, pride, self-
adulation, worldliness and oppression, together
with the fearful retributions of Heaven, call loudly
for deep humiliation and true penitence, including
a purpose and determination to i break every yoke
and let the oppressed go free.
" 9. Last, but not least, the demands of the
times must fail of being met, without a stronger
faith, more fervent piety, more all-consuming zeal,
and a deeper baptism of the Holy Spirit."
In an editorial, written after our national skies
were brightening, giving our position as a
nation a few years before, and our then present
prospects, he says :
" Through our highest courts we had declared
that a l man of color has no right which a white
man is bound to respect; and in violation of
plighted faith, we had opened the virgin soil of
Kansas to the ingress of slavery, and persistently
employed the powers of the Government for the
infliction of slavery with all its untold horrors
upon an unwilling people. And with but few noble
exceptions, the religious bodies of the land were
acquiescent. Thus both Church and State were
criminally in the interests of slavery. Here is
where we were when the present war commenced.
But we thank God, a brighter record awaits us.
136 THE LIFE OF
" Maryland has enrolled herself among the Free
States ; Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Alabama
are moving in the same direction. The Metho
dist E. Church has closed its communion against all
slave-holders ; other Churches are uttering words
of denunciation against the system, merited and
distinct ; and as a crowning act, by a large ma
jority of both Houses of Congress, the infamous
Fugitive Bills of 1193 and 1850 are wiped from
the statute books of the Nation, and the repealing
act approved and signed by the President." Three
years ago, in the eyes of the Nation, slavery was
legitimate, petted and defended ; now it is well
nigh esteemed an outlaw and rebel against God,
the Nation, and the interests of humanity.
"More than twenty years ago, Orange Scott,
and other true prophets of the Lord, clearly saw
and foretold, that &lt; the days of American Slavery
were numbered ; that its death-warrant was sealed
in Heaven. We had hoped, however, to bring
about the work of repentance to the extent that
its execution would not subject the Nation to pun
ishment, nor peril its existence. But in this re
spect our hopes were not to be realized. We were
doomed to disappointment, sad and grievous.
God be praised that we are learning obedience by
the things we suffer. Fruitless regrets aside, God
does not needlessly afflict the children of men-
1 True and righteous are his judgments. May we,
as a nation, speedily show mercy to all the afflicted,
that mercy may be shown us. Amen !"
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 137
Later he said :
" The dark clouds are fast lifting from our
Country s horizon. Victory seems to crowd upon
the heels of victory. Let grateful thanksgiving
continuously go up to God for benefits bestowed,
together with fervent prayers for the speedy be
stowal of a righteous and perpetual peace."
Still later he wrote, as follows :
" Watchman, what of the night ? Is there hope
for the Nation ? After all that has been expended
in blood and treasure must we still perish ? We
have survived the conflict of arms ; shall we be
adequate to the perils of peace ? These are
questions of appalling significance. Our enemies
in Europe answer, No ! Is the wish parent to the
prediction ? We believe that the lap of the future
is freighted with good for our Country. Reasons :
" 1 The Nation is forever redeemed from the
curse of slavery. The war, the Proclamation, and
the Constitutional Amendment settle that question
beyond all peradventure. Liberty is now and
ever shall be in the ascendant. Thank God, in
this Country she has secured a continental home.
We shall never have another rebellion in the in
terest of slavery. The body politic is forever re
lieved of this great element of unrest.
" 2. The Nation is likewise purged of the es
sentially disintegrating element of the doctrine of
State Sovereignty, in its perverted application.
" 3. The aristocrats, anti-republicans and fac-
138 THE LIFE OF
tionists of the South, who have ruled the Country
for the last half-century, are forever dethroned.
" 4. In this Country patriotism is no longer to
be an empty name ; but is to be a living sentiment
forever entempled in the Nation s heart.
" 5. In our own eyes, in the eyes of the world,
and in reality, we are stronger to-day than ever
before. Stronger, because relieved of those inter
nal elements of revolt, slavery, perverted state
sovereignty, and their fruits and necessary ad
juncts; pride, contempt for honest tr-il, impatience
of restraint and the spirit of domination.
" 6. It is to be hoped that politicians have learned
a lesson of prudence and caution. Hereafter, let
political leaders adhere to the truth, address rea
son, and not appeal to blind passion.
" 7. Not only has the Nation been purged, poli
ticians taught wisdom, but we rejoice to believe
that our religion and our Churches have been im
proved. Thank God, that at last the distinct ut
terances of the Pulpit, the religious Press, Doctors
of Divinity, and ecclesiastical assemblies, are no
longer in the interest of the wealthy and proud
oppressor, but unqualifiedly in favor of the poor
and oppressed. This single truth lights the whole
national heavens with a glow of promised good !
Let heaven and earth rejoice at once over a disen
thralled Nation and Church,
"Finally, There is hope for our Counrty, because,
as our national currency attests, In God we trust.
He has not put us in the furnace for destruction,
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 139
but for purification. A brighter era is just before
us ! This glorious truth murmurs in every brook
and streamlet, whispers in every breeze, and makes
glad music in the interior of every soul. God has
great thoughts and purposes of good for this Na
tion. There is hope for our Country, for our chil
dren in coming generations, and for liberty in all
lands !
DENOMINATIONAL UNION MOVEMENT.
Mr. Crooks had not been in the chair editorial
many months, before the subject of our union with
some other denomination began again to be agi
tated and as the prospect of our Nation s final
release from the " sum of all villainies" became
more and more apparent, the matter was urged
more and more earnestly. When freedom to the
millions of slaves was proclaimed, the friends of
the " union movement" said : " Slavery, the primal
cause of our organization as a body of Churches,
is dead, and there is nothing to be gained by our
continued existence. We can now disband con
sistently." They forgot that in destroying our
little Zion, they were destroying the religious
home of our people, the most of whom had never
known any other. For this cause they had fought
" many a battle sore," had " many a trial," " made
many a sacrifice." and the little home, though hum
ble, was very dear to their hearts. Many could
not, in conscience, go to any other, and would be
140 THE LIFE OF
left homeless and uncared for during their journey
to the better land.
It was asserted, time and again, by those who
ought to have known the truth, that " Our people,
as a mass, are ready for the change." Under these
circumstances, Mr. Crooks could do nothing but
" let the people speak for themselves, and decide
for themselves."
The battle raged long and fiercely. Many
seemed to forget that Jesus taught: "And unto him
that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the
other." Some of us then learned the lesson If we
hope to be forgiven we must forgive.
He stood between the two fires, and tried, with
constant, unceasing prayer to God for help, to hold
the balances. If ever man soughttodeal justly in
this matter, he did. God alone knows the trials
of those days and months ; God alone knows the
heavy blows which fell upon his devoted head, arid
burdened heart. When I remember those days of
conflict, I am filled with wonder ; how could he
have borne all be did ? He could not, only God
was with him.
In looking over files of letters, I find copies of
some of his replies to those who wrote him on the
subject of the Union." I give a few extracts to
show his spirit :
JUNE 8, 1869.
"Wholly aside from any conviction of right and wrong
in the case, I cannot but regard it [the Union Move
ment ] as unfortunate at this time. Reasons :
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 141
"1. It is not spontaneous with our people. It origi
nates with the few; hence, the many are not ready for it.
" 2. It involves a question which has heretofore dis
tracted us, and concerning which many of our people are
strongly bound in conscience.
"3. This being true, it puts the unity of our own
people in imminent peril. Unless the greatest prudence is
exercised, we are to be exploded, and with all the prudence
possible, we are to be distracted and alienated. This at a
time when we should be joyful over past achievements, and
active in doing the work of the hour for the freed men.
" 4. It puts Adrian College, now iu its infancy, in jeop
ardy, when it needs all the help of all the people. W hen
our attention should be eminently fixed upon it, we are oc
cupied with this l Union matter. Thus our people are
distracted, and in suspense, and indeed, being alienated,
when they should be a unit, both in heart and effort.
The Convention (Cleveland) must not ignore the voice of
the people, and Adrian College must act so as not to lose
the confidence of our people.
u 5. Five years ago, when every prominent man among
us favored the l Union, it could not be effected. These
facts have their significance, and on these accounts I
tremble for results. God help us all to act wisely."
July 24, 1865.
" I shall be as prudent as possible, but violate my con
science, or be dishonest I will not. The Lord helping me."
March 21, 1866.
" God is witness, I have tried to be impartial. If I am
supposed to be opposed to the publication of anything on
either side calculated to throw light on the subject of duty
as to this matter, I am the worst misunderstood man in
the Connection. I have been pained ten-foldmore be
cause of the profound silence of the authors of the Union
Movement, on the subject in its moral aspect, than by all
other considerations combined. No, I shall most gladly
142 THE LIFE OF
welcome truth from either side. My heart has been as a
furnace, because of the aforesaid silence. I wish you would
immediately send a statement of facts as to what was done
respecting Adrian College. If anything decisive has been
done, it loots badly. 1st, Because of profound silence.
2d, It looks like an attempt to almost force Union mat
ters, and 3d, To make the College practically sure to
those who go into the &lt; Union, and as a denominational
enterprise lost to those who do not go in. It has a terrible
bad countenance. If a full statement of the facts will
satisfy our people, you do yourselves and them great wrong
in withholding it. If it will not, then God help us.
Another point : Our people are far from being ready
for concerted action. Not a tew are opposed to the
&lt; Union 7 entirely ; others favor a union of all Methodists,
and others of only non-Episcopal bodies. In a very few
years lay delegation will be incorporated into the Metho
dist Episcopal Church. This will make the existence of
the new body either sickly or temporary.
"In view of all these facts, is it wise to press the
Union Movement to a speedy consummation ? I cannot
so regard it. Rocky roads require slow and careful driv
ing j rapid driving will be damaging, may be fatal to the
vehicle. There are times when it is the dictate of the
highest wisdom to make haste slowly. Delay may se
cure concert; haste will surely be fatal."
MAY 10, 1866.
" You know my heart in relation to this great question j
how I desire that God should guide you and me and all
of us in the right way. . . As to our l fate being sealed
tna t &lt; we cannot live I do not believe a word of it. If
we but do the work of a Church of Jesus Christ, we will
be subject to the law of increase."
MARCH 27, 1867.
11 By some I may be judged as self-seeking. God for
bid ! I do not seek ease, nor shun toil. Following the
pillar of God s providence, I went and remained in North
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 143
Carolina at the peril of my life, and now I am where God
and the brethren have put me. I never sought position,
and I shall antagonize nothing nor any one, but as duty
may seem to impel.
" I would not let myself think otherwise of thee, my
brother. His will as known, to be our law, may He
keep us ever in this spirit. With you, I do not know
what I shall do, only that I shall seek to please God."
Also, in another of the same date, but to an
other person, he says :
" In an emergency it is no time to seek new friends,
bnt to depend upon old ones, true and tried. When those
who have been sapping the foundation of confidence in
our perpetuity, get through with that kind of work, if
they ever do, then we may hope to succeed in enlarging
our list. You say you want the WESLEYAN to live.
Those with whom you are in correspondence, boast that
1 the Way of Holiness has gone down, and the WESLEY
AN soon will. 7 If I wanted a house to stand, be assured,
I would not keep incessantly digging away its founda
tion.
tl Reverse our position and relations, and let me pursue
the course you have and are pursuing, and as a man of
sense, I ask you what you would think of me ? [Would
you still think me acting the part of a brother?] 1 allude
both to your conversation and correspondence "
In October, 1866, Dr. Prindle resigned his po
sition as Agent, at the meeting of the Book Com
mittee. At the same meeting, Mr. Crooks was
appointed Agent. His first editorial after his
agency commenced, was
" EARNEST WORDS TO WESLEYANS."
" BELOVED BRETHREN AND SISTERS : Just at
this point in our history there are evils to which
144 THE LIFE OP
we are greatly exposed and against which we
should be strongly fortified. We will name some
of them.
" With us as a denomination, the last twenty
months have been months of earnest, and in some
instances, we are sorry to say, caustic controversy.
As in the case of Paul and Barnabas, the conten
tion became l sharp. There is danger of pro
tracting these contentions to our own injury, as also
of fostering feelings not compatible with Christian
charity and fraternity. Having been thoroughly
canvassed, may not these questions of controversy
be profitably dismissed, at least from the field of
disputation? We are confident that this is in
tensely desired by a large majority of our people.
And awarding integrity of motive to all, shall we
not rise to an altitude of Christian charity and
magnanimity which will keep our hearts united in
unabated Christian fellowship and esteem? We
are brethren. Wesleyans must not fall out by the
way. In matters of such vast moment, blind pas
sion may not innocently be consulted. Let us
earnestly covet and devoutly pray for the l best
gift that without which by the verdict of inspira
tion, we are nothing.
"We should give no place to needless discourage
ments. We cannot free ourself from the conviction
that undue emphasis has already been given to dis
couragement. We have even heard it more than
whispered, that our continued existence as a sepa
rate organization is not possible, Duly sensible
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 145
as we believe we are to all that tends to discourage,
our faith in the possibility of a continued useful ex
istence has never for one moment faltered. Viewed
and judged from a merely human stand-point, our
prospects are vastly better than were those of Isra
el at the Red Sea, or the disciples after the Cruci
fixion, or of Luther at Worms, or yet of the Wes-
leys when they first entered upon their career of
grand spiritual achievement and triumph. What,
if for some years past we have been under the law
of diminution : the same is true of larger, sister de
nominations. These have been years of special
trial to all Churches. Moreover, there is a dimi
nution which contributes to strength and perpetuity.
All new bodies are less or more the victims of a
kind of floating capital, to be relieved of whicli is
a real deliverance. Of this class of character, Wes-
leyans have had their full share. If we will but
faith f tdiy do the work of a Christian Church, multiply
converts and build up believers in all the Christian
graces, we will quickly pass from under the law of
diminution and come under that of increase. Our con
tinuance and growth under G-od, therefore, is with
ourselves. If we deserve an existence our extinc
tion is not possible.
"As in former times, God has made us his van
guard in his great battle for the temporal deliver
ance of his oppressed poor, may ho not have in
reserve for us a future of a still higher and more
glorious significance; the calling of his people to
7
146 THE LIFE OF
a larger spiritual liberty ? For years there has
been imbedded in the Christian consciousness the
conviction that the Churches are signally failing
to fulfill the great mission of evangelizing the
world. We have churches and pulpits, and preach
ers, and learning and talents and sermons enough;
but conversions are few, and in too many instances
only partial. A higher and better state of things
must be inaugurated, or otherwise the conversion
of the world is not even the subject of reasonable
hope. What is the great defect ? The ready an
swer comes, Want of the spirit of power on the
part of God s minister s and people. Other rea
sons there are ; but the great foundational and all
comprehensive reason is found here. Not by
might nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the
Lord. God will not share his glory with another.
In the work of saving men too much must not be
awarded to human, nor too little to Divine agency.
Hence, in his great wisdom God chose the l foolish
things of this world to confound the wise; and
God hath chosen the weak things of the world to
confound the things which are mighty ; and base
things of the world, and things which are despised,
hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not,
to bring to naught things that are. Hence, too,
men of great power with God, are invariably men
of much prayer. To us it was cause of exceeding-
joy as we visited the Conferences at their recent
sessions, to find that many of our ministers are
coming to the apprehension of this great and vital
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 147
truth. It was in harmony with this apprehension,
that having resolved to continue its present eccle
siastical relations, the Iowa Conference immediate
ly adopted the following : Here and now, to the
glory of God and for the salvation of souls, we
consecrate ourselves renewedly to the work and
service of Christ, trusting not in forms or usages,
but in the Holy Ghost, for success. Also many
of the members of the Michigan Conference re
newed their ordination vows ; and the gracious
influences of the Holy Spirit descended and rested
richly upon them. Yet as it respects this subject,
we only see men as trees walking. May the entire
ministry renew their, covenant vows; and may
Heaven bestow upon us and upon all the Churches,
abundantly, the baptisim of zeal and of power !
And let all the people say, Amen !"
Part of editorial, January, 1867.
" UNION MOVEMENT CALLED CONFERENCE.
"From the first we deprecated the Union
Movement, so called ; fearing it could only work
disaster. The sequel proves that these fears were
well founded. But we supposed that in the ab
sence of general harmony, the enterprise would be
abandoned. In this we were sadly disappointed.
Opposition soon began to develop. Both sides
were allowed an impartial hearing. For many
months the contest raged around our head, and we
remained silent. It becoming apparent that op
position was formidable, Conference after Confer-
148 THE LIFE OF
ence resolved, 1st. Not to compromise any of our
positions on moral questions; and, 2d. Not to de
stroy our own denominational unity. Hence, we
were confident that the Cincinnati Convention
would meet, consult, and pray over the general
subject of Christian union, and part, leaving each
denomination with integrity unimpaired ; just as
brother Matlack afterwards said he advised. But
as is well known, this was not the policy adopted
by the Convention. Soon it became apparent that
in the Convention there was disagreement on
moral, and even patriotic questions. We believe
that no single paper introduced by a Wesleyan on
either of these subjects, passed in the Convention
without encountering opposition. As must have
been the case, Conference succeeding Conference
which had hitherto favored the movement, now
withdrew that favor. Some individuals still felt
themselves bound in honor and in conscience to
press the measure to consummation. As a con
certed movement it is now abandoned. This move
ment was for a union of all the non-Episcopal
Methodist bodies in this Country.
In this issue of our paper will be found a Call
for a Conference of all Wesley ans in favor of
uniting with the Methodist Episcopal Church. We
give the Call insertion, not because we can go into
such Conference, but for the reason that we regard
religious denominations as voluntary associations,
and for the further reasons, that however regretful
we may be, yet we are willing that all those whose
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 149
tastes or convictions of duty would lead to the
Methodist Episcopal, or any other Church, should
conform to those tastes or convictions.
" What we would desire, is that those who go
out from us do it quietly and peaceably. There is
no beauty in, nor just occasion for distracting or
mutilating. The Methodist Episcopal Church
needs neither our ministers nor members. And on
the other hand, we would have no one, minister
or member, leave the Connection as the mere re
sult of panic, Stand still, and see the salvation
of the Lord. There is no necessity for haste.
Do nothing now which may lay the foundation for
future fruitless regrets. Let no Church, minister,
or private member leave, merely because they hear
that others in other localities, are going to do so.
Such rumors may or may not be true. Let every
one be fully persuaded in his own mind, and act
out his highest convictions of right. And let no
one fear to do right. A religious denomination
fully devoted to the edification of its members in
all the Christian graces, and in the salvation of
sinners, may duplicate in three years. &lt; Trust in
the Lord, do good, so shalt thou dwell in the land,
and verily thou shalt be fed. They that trust in
the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, that cannot be
moved. The Lord give us the victory of Faith.
" In these days we are ever and anon reminded
of the appalling report by the spies sent by Israel
to spy out the land of Canaan. There were great,
walled cities. There were giants in the land.
150 THE LIFE OF
They said l we were in our own sight as grass
hoppers, and so we were like grasshoppers in
their sight ; we had better return to Egypt. Also
are we reminded of the inockings of Sanballat and
Tobiah &lt; What do these feeble Jews ? will they
fortify themselves ? will they sacrifice ? will they
make an end in a day ? will they revive the stones
out of the heaps of rubbish which are burned ?
That which they build, if a fox go up, he shall
even break down their stone wall. The sequel of
both of these cases is well known to the Biblical
student. But we confess that we are growing
weary of hearing our own funeral sermon repeated
so often. The good folks will please desist, and
neither administer upon our estate, nor any part of
it ; nor yet observe our funeral rites until our de
mise is officially announced.
" Men and women of God, the world is before
us. Souls are perishing all around us. In many
places Zion is a waste. Life is but brief. Time
is swiftly passing. What we do to rescue the
perishing, or edify the Church, which is the body
of Christ, must be done quickly. Then l rich in
faith, strong in purpose, and led by the great Cap
tain of our Salvation,
1 Indissolubly joined,
To battle all proceed :
But arrn yourselves with all the mind
That was in Christ, your Head. "
" And if, in the providence of God, our forces
are in the future to be united with other cohorts,
fcEV. ADAM CROOKS, 151
we should hold ourselves in cheerful readiness for
such event. But Providence should never be an
ticipated ; only patiently awaited."
THE RALLY AND RESTORATION OF CONFI
DENCE.
The people rallied bravely. Expressions of
confidence were given. Every man who remained
seemed to feel he had something to do. His
labors were very arduous, having all the editorial
and publishing interests to care for, and at the
same time, be prepared with weapons furnished by
faithful brethren, and his own, to meet all the
attacks made by those who had said we must dis
band ,* and of course we would have to do so, if
they, by any possibility, could bring it to pass.
In connection with all the rest of his labors, he
served the Church in Syracuse as pastor, one year,
and at the same time, attended regularly a tem
perance meeting, held on Sabbath afternoon, in
one of the Halls of the city. This last organization
being in its infancy, he was anxious that it should
be a success. He often addressed it, and served
it one term as President. He continued to meet
with it until his frequent absences from the city
made it impossible to do so longer.
He seldom rested one Sabbath, for his calls to
the Churches became more numerous than he
could respond to. Far and near he went to at
tend Quarterly-meetings, and encourage
152 THE LIFE OF
Churches to rally to the work. Of course,
made extra work requiring very much night, or
early morning work. He would not write even
ings, because so weary. After a few hours sleep,
he would awake refreshed, and could accomplish
much more in a short time. Many mornings he
has arisen at one o clock to write, or prepare
" copy." Indeed, nearly all his editorials during
these years of conflict, were written by lamp-light,,
in early morning. The matter for the paper
must be furnished in time the affairs of the Office
must be attended to, supplies must be kept on
hand. Thus the dollars must be made to go as
far as possible. Retrenchments in every way must
be made. All his energies, all his time and talents
were given to the cause. He could talk of noth
ing, think of nothing beside, and the burden of his
prayers was for direction and help in the work
before him. Memory brings to mind seasons of
earnest pleadings for wisdom, for a constant guid
ance, for he did not want to go forward except he
heard the command " Go forward/ from his
leader, God.
During one of the sessions of the Allegheny
Conference, the way seemed blocked. The pow
ers of darkness for a time appeared to prevail,
He felt that he could not go forward unless he
had some token, that it was Lord s will. He
spent the entire night in prayer. Alone, nearly
all the time with God, like one of old, he felt he
could not let him go except he bless. His prayer
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 153
Was, " Oh Lord shout me the path of duty. Give me
the light to walk in. If it is thy will that we, as a
denomination, should disband, make it plain to me ;
if not, open the way. 1 cannot give it up I must
know thy will. I cannot I will not go forward
unless thou dost direct the way." All night was
spent on his knees pleading. Just as daylight
appears to drive away nature s darkness, so the
11 light of God" shone around him, making duty
plain. Almost an audible voice said " Go for
ward ; I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."
From that time, no matter what the opposition, or
how great the obstacles, he felt the calm assur
ance that God was with us, and " who can be
against us." He walked constantly in " that light,"
feeling that " one with God, is a majority." He
would often hear of unkind letters having been
written, unkind personal remarks having been
made, but I never knew him to manifest a spirit
of retaliation. He almost always used to say " I
am so sorry for them, they are not happy, or they
would not say such things." Many times he used
this language in his prayers, " Lord, bless our
enemies, if we have any. Touch their hearts,
change their language and save their souls."
One who left the Wesleyans during this move
ment, said to him, " Now, brother Crooks, you are
ambitious, and you can take a high position in
other Churches, and why do you remain with those
who are left. They are poor, illiterate and huin-
7*
THELTFEOF
ble, and you cannot expect eminence if you i emaiii
with them." His answer was," I am ambitious
only to do God s will. I want to fill the place he
has for me ; to do the work he gives me to do.
God will take care of me and my reputation."
When our people took courage, and began to
build churches, he was sent for, far and near to
dedicate them. I think it was in the Winter of
1867, he went to Iowa. It was extremely cold,
He had to work early and late, to be able to leave
the Office. He was gone six days, of which he
rode five days and nights. He took his luncheon
along to save expenses, as they were not able to
do more than barely defray his expenses. In
1873 he went to the same State, was gone seven
days, and rode five days and nights. He never
spared himself if he thought the cause of God
needed his labors. If expostulated with, he would
say, " It is labor here and rest hereafter." There
was so much to be done so much that would
have to go undone, if he did not step forward and
do it, that he could not rest. It is easy to stand
and look on, and enjoin care of self, but it is hard
for an earnest worker to see the cause of Christ
suffer for the want of efficient laborers, or for the
want of means to pay others for doing the work.
Many, very many times he stepped forward to lift
the burdens for others, when he ought to have been
relieved. During his ten years and over, of hard
labor at the Wesleyan Office, and his attention to
the interests of the Connection, he never had one
"REV. ADAM CROOKS. 155
week^s rest ; not one week in which he could lay
his cares aside and seek repose. When the pastors
of the various Churches of this city would be tak
ing their Summer vacations among green fields and
pleasant surroundings, it was a heavy cross for me
to see my precious one toiling on, regardless of
heat or dust weariness of body or mind every
day using all his strength. Sometimes it seemed to
me that all the change for him was added care, or
a little more work.
At the General Conference held in Cleveland^
Ohio, in the fall of 1867, he was re-appointed
Editor and Agent. For more than five years
he had the entire charge of the Connectional inter
ests. He was editor of two papers ; manager of
finances, both of Publishing Association and Mis*
sionary Society. He also carried on an extensive
correspondence with all parts of the work. He
was ready to entertain all who came, and had a
cheerful, hopeful word for every one. During
these years he often had ague and fever,- also, was
subject to attacks of billious colic, when, for a few
hours, he was a terrible sufferer. He did not take
much medicine ; for rest of body and of mind was
what he most needed. He could not believe that
his constitution was being undermined ; that the
seeds of disease were being sown, which would
destroy his strong, healthy body. His heart and
hands were so full of "labors more abundant/
that he did not take time to realize his danger.
15& THE LIFE OF
When sick, his greatest anxiety was to get well
for fear the work would suffer.
In the spring of 1868 the first National Anti-
Secret Convention met in Pittsburg, Pa. He wa&
a delegate, and in 1869, a State Convention of the
same kind was held in Syracuse, over which he
presided. I give the resolutions passed by the
State Convention held in Rochester a few days
after his death; also a few of his reasons why
Christians should oppose those societies.
PEEAMBLE AND KESOLUTIONS.
11 WHEREAS : In the midst of our rejoicings in prosperi
ty, the pall of an inexpressible sadness has been recently
spread over us, in the event of the death of Rev. Adam
Crooks, one of the most able and efficiert members of our
State Association, And,
"WHEREAS: In early life Brother Crooks identified
himself with the cause of reform, and with heart, and
pen, and voice, has ever stood in the forefront of every
great moral conflict, battling for God and the right ; and
he attended the first National Convention Opposed to Se
cret Societies, held at Pittsburgh, Pa., and was elected
one of the officers of the National Association then and
there organized, And,
" WHEREAS: From his early association with this
work of reform, and the great abilities and devout piety
he brought to the work, we had learned to look to him
as one of our most honored and trusted leaders, And,
" WHEREAS : A God of infinite wisdom and unbound
ed goodness has called our dear brother from the conflicts
of earth to the rest of heaven, your Committee have ap
pended the following resolutions if it please the Conven
tion for their adoption :
" ResolvedI. That in the death of Rev. Adam Crooks,
REV, ADAM CROOKS. 157
from his great force of personal character, his superior
abilities, the efficiency of his pen, we feel deeply, as a Con
vention, oar great loss.
11 Resolved 2. That inspired by the example of Brother
Crooks, and others who have fallen at their posts, we will
close ranks, lock shields, and press in the name of God to
victory.
"Resolved 3* That our warmest sympathies are tendered
to the widow of Brother Crooks, and all afflicted in the
death of members of this association during the year last
past ; and we do most earnestly pray that Divine grace
may prove their sufficient support and consolation.
All of which is most respectfully submitted.
N. WARDNER, CWn Com.
D. KIRKFATRICK, Pres.
EDWIN BARNETSON, Sedy."
EXTRACT FROM SUPPLEMENT TO " AN INQUI
RY INTO FREEMASONRY AND ODDFEL-
LOWSHIP."
"The Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America
does antagonize those fraternities. In all kind
ness, yet with much plainness, the following pages
set forth some of the prominent reasons for such
attitude. We write with the single object of
serving the interests of Christ s kingdom. Eead
and ponder with the candor of Christian honesty.
" I. In its pretensions to great antiquity as also
in the history of its degrees, Masonry evidences a
criminal disregard for truth. Instance a few ex
amples ; and only a few. As every person intel
ligent upon the subject knows, Masonry professes
to date back to the days of Adam and Enoch, and
narrates how by the agency of the latter its
158 THE LIFE OF
precious jewels were preserved through the
flood. That it has its A. L. Year of Light, dat
ing back 5874 years, That it teaches that Solo
mon and cotemporaries, Hiram Abiff, the Widow s
son, and Hiram, King of Tyre, were three Grand
Master Masons, That Hiram Abiff was cruelly
murdered by three Felloe Crafts, Jubela, Jubelo,
Jubelum, for firmly refusing to give them the Mas
ter s word, and for which they respectively suffered
the dreadful penalties of the first three degrees of
Masonry, That anciently the Word of God was
preserved from being lost through Masonry, -That
the omission of the name of Jesus in the Blue
Lodge prayers is owing to the fact that Masonry is
more ancient than Christianity, That the two
Saints, John the Baptist and John the Evangelist
were patrons ot Masonry,- and very much more of
like character.
" Speaking in unvarnished terminology, the Editor
of the American Freemason, a Monthly, published in
the interest of the Fraternity, said of the story of
the murder of Hiram Abiff, parroted as history in
the lodges every week, that its every sentence is
a lie. And as every scholar knows, Jubela, Jube*
lo, Jubelum, who according to Masonic lore murder
ed Hiram Abiff, are not Tyrean but Latin names,
and that the Latin language did not have existence
till some three hundred years after Solomon and
the two Hirams ; and that therefore the story is not
only false, but ridiculous. But in the presence of
such boastful pretensions to antiquity, what are we
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 159
to think of the following confessions to the recent
nativity of Masonry ? Steinbrenner, an able Ma
sonic historian, admits that Speculative Freema
sonry dates no further back than 1717 less than
160 years. Now what becomes of the stories
about Enoch, and Solomon, and Hiram Abiff, and
Jubela, Jubelo, Jubelum, and the preserving the
Word of God from being lost, and of the omission
of the name of Jesus because of the superior an
tiquity of Masonry, and of the two Saints John, and
of its &lt; Year of Light? But Dr, Dalco, compiler
of the book of Constitutions for the State of South
Carolina, meets these pretentious claims with a
direct contradiction. He says, Neither Adam,
nor Noah, nor Nimrod, nor Moses, nor Joshua, nor
David, nor Solomon, nor Hiram, nor St. John the
Baptist, nor St. John the Evangelist, were Free
masons. Hypothesis in history is absurd. There
is no record, sacred or profane, to induce us to be
lieve that those holy men were Freemasons j and
our traditions do not go back to those days.
To assert that they were Freemasons may make the vul .
gar stare, but will rather excite the contempt than the
admiration of the wise. 1
" II. Profanity is specifically forbidden in the
Word of God. &lt; Thou shalt not take tjie name of
the Lord thy God in vain ; for the Lord will not
hold him guiltless who taketh his name in vain.
Ex. xx : 7. Jesus is very specific and minute.
But I say unto you, Swear not at all, neither by
heaven, for it is God s throne ; nor by the earth,
160 THE LIFE OP
for it is his footstool j neither by Jerusalem, for it
is the city of the Great King; neither shalt thou
swear by thy head ; because thou canst not make
one hair white or black. But let your communica
tion be Yea, yea ; Nay, nay ; for whatsoever is
more than these, cometh of evil. Matt, v : 34, 35,
36. And St. James emphasizes this prohibition in
the words following : l But above all things, my
brethren, swear not; neither by heaven; neither
by the earth; neither by any other oath." Jas. v:
12. The duty of the Church to prohibit profanity
no person of common intelligence can doubt. But
Freemasonry is built upon swearing. Every dis
tinct obligation in every degree is taken by swear
ing. In the first seven degrees there are over
half a hundred distinct oaths. And this terrible
swearing is going on throughout the Country in all
the Lodges, every week ! Every person must know,
upon a moment s j-eflection, what must be the in
fluence of such familiar use of the name of Deity.
With so much swearing in the Lodges, no marvel
that the earth almost groans beneath abounding
profanity. Hence, in -so-far as it is the duty of
the Church to prohibit profanity, it is her duty to
protest and oppose Freemasonry ; seeing that every
stone in this superstructure, from foundation to
cap-stone, is laid in profanity swearing authorized
by no law, either human or divine.
"III. The obligations of Freemasonry are taken
in ignorance, and under circumstances which pre
clude the possibility of the due consideration of
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 161
their character. Still further: The higher degrees
rest upon and are supported by the lower ; and the
members of the lower degrees are assumed to be
in utter ignorance of the obligations of the higher.
Thus, by the very organic structure of the institu
tion, the members of the lower degrees are sup
porting under oath and death-penalty, they know not
what. That the Church cannot innocently tolerate
such reckless disregard of the sacred obligations of
morality and the valued interests of mankind, is
self-manifest.
" IV. But not only are the obligations of Free
masonry assumed and supported in ignorance, but
some of these obligations are essentially criminal.
We instance the obligation to keep the secret of a
brother Master Mason, communicated as such, as
inviolable as in his own breast, murder and treason
only excepted ; and in the Royal Arch degree,
murder and treason not excepted/ that to flee
to the relief of a brother Master Mason giving the
sign of distress, at the risk of life ; and this wholly
irrespective of what may be the occasion of his
distress and that to espouse the cause of a com
panion Royal Arch Mason engaged in any difficul
ty, so far as may be necessary to rescue him there
from, whether he be right or wrong. [See Morgan s
Expose of Freemasonry, pp. 74, 75 ; Light on Ma
sonry, pp. 74, 75; Finney s Letters, pp. 90, 91.
Also xiii Wendell, pp. 9 26.] Palpably, such
obligations are alike incompatible with the duties
of the citizen and the Christian, obstructive of the
162 THE LIFE OP
just administration of civil and ecclesiastical law ;
and therefore essentially subversive of both Church
and State. Civil Government is as really ordained
of God as is the marriage relation; and hence, it
is as much the duty of the Church to maintain the
former as the latter. Therefore, by all that binds
the Church to maintain its own purity and life, as
also the integrity of the State, it is bound to an
tagonize Freemasonry,
" V. Everywhere the Scriptures teach to hold in
sacred regard, human life. But everywhere Masonry
pawns the lives of its votaries. We enumerate
some of its horrid penalties. The throat cut
across the tongue torn out by the roots the left
breast torn open and the heart and vitals taken
thence the body severed in the midst and the
bowels burned to ashes tongue split from tip to
root the skull smote off, &c., &c. No reflecting
inind can fail to see how essentially anti-Christian
and barbarous are such penalties ; nor yet how
barbarizing the influence of making the mind fa
miliar with such monstrous mutilations. What
kind of imprecations are these for civilized men;
saying nothing of Christians and Christian minis
ters ? Thus while Christianity enjoins lo ve, bless
ing, and forgiveness of enemies, Freemasonry
binds to VENGEANCE and MURDER !
" VI. But this thought gathers additional empha
sis from the well-authenticated facts of history that
Secret Societies have been the foster-nests of Jacob
inism, Communism, Political Revolution and every
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 163
form of Skepticism. Read Barruel s four volumes,
and Robinson s Evidences of Conspiracy against
both Civil Government and the Christian Religion.
.Hence, naturally enough, Voltaire, D Alambert, Did
erot, Condorcet, Robespierre and fellow conspira
tors, called into requisition secrecy, for the effectu
ation of their diabolical purposes. Even Commun
ism is but Freemasonry gone to seed. For, from
the Masonic position of a belief in some God, but
utter indifference as to which, there is but a single step
to the position of no God. Hence, to an extent
which the masses but little suspect, Freemasonry
and free thinking (Skepticism) are confederates.
And this connection is both philosophic and historic.
Hence, too, Communists are Atheists of the coars
est type. Only think ! in his great work on Mod
ern Doubt and Christian Belief, page 30, Christ-
lieb makes note of a Secret Society in a Prussian
gymnasium, consisting of boys between thirteen
and fifteen years of age, the very first paragraph
of its rules commencing with l Any one believing
in a God is thereby excluded from this society.
Thus, boys in their first teens are committed to
the dogma, fatal as it is senseless, of no God !
But none can doubt that this society is modeled
after one whose initiates are boys of larger
growth. Hence, as the divinely appointed con
servator of all interests sacred to either God or
humanity, it is the high duty of the Christian
Church to antagonize such fraternities .
" VII. Again : As Secret Societies are organized
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favoritism, which ever and anon pushes justice
from her throne ; puts one up, and another down
not because of personal merit, but the senseless,
figments of grips, signs and pass-words; thus un-.
settling the eternal sub-basis of the whole social
fabric community, Church and State; and, as
the God-appointed work of the Church is to es
tablish judgment in the earth, in the very nature
of the case, her divine mission cannot be accom
plished without the overthrow of these societies.
This single fact makes her duty plain.
" VIII. The Bible teaches everywhere the insep-
arableness of purity and acceptable worship. If we
regard iniquity in our heart, the Lord will not
hear us, Holiness becometh thine house, Lord,
forever. &lt; Worship the Lord in the beauty of
holiness. &lt;He that turneth away his ear from
hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomi
nation. But aside from its caricature of the Bi
ble narrative of Moses and the burning bush, where
puny man is heard saying, &lt; I am that I am, as in
the Royal Arch degree; aside from their mixing
repeated falsehood with the exclamation i Holi
ness unto the Lord ! as in the pretended finding
of the Ark of the Lord containing the Law, the
manna and the rod that budded ; from the admix
ture of prayer and unmanly mummery ; and aside
from the mimic performances of the visions of the
Revel ator, as in Rev. v, vi, and vii : in which four
old men with inflated bladders, represent the four
angels of God, having in command the four winds
REV. ADAM CROOKS, 165
of heaven, and worthy Masons in white robes,
coming up to the throne, having washed their
robes in their own blood ! Aside from all these
performances, revolting to every sentiment of rev
erence, these secret orders divorce, in the sanctu
ary of the soul, the divinely united ideas of purity
and worship, by frequently appointing lips notori
ously profane to parrot prayers into the ears of
Jehovah; thus perverting the heart and mind in
their deepest fountains obliterating all just con
ceptions of acceptable worship. This single fact
might well cause holy angels to weep, and suffi
ciently defines the duty of the Christian Church.
" IX. By all its multitudinous oaths, frightful
death-penalties, and tormenting dread of the vari
ous vengeance of the Craft, Freemasonry seeks to
bind the soul for life, in the holy sanctuary of its
convictions of right. It may be filled and thrilled
with horror in view of its obligations and associa
tions, and yet find itself fastened to this body of
death by cords of more than steel. This lament
able truth addresses itself not only to the con
science of every Christian, but also to the heart of
every true American. The true Church every
where cries out Loose the human conscience,
and let it go free.
" X. While seeming to reverence the Bible, as
containing the revealed will of God, Freemasonry
in reality degrades it to a level with the
Veda, the Shaster, the Koran, the Zen Davesta,
and the sacred books of all nations. In this re-
166 THE LIFE OF
gard, no distinction is made between the true and
the false, the clean and the unclean. With this in
stitution, all are of like authority ; or rather want
of authority, as having the Divine sanction. Proof:
Chase s Digest of Masonic Lav^ page 207: ( In
fact, Blue Lodge Masonry has nothing whatever to
do with the Bible. Of course he means, as of di
vine authority. In Masonic Jurisprudence, Mackey
lajs it down as a fundamental Landmark in Masonry,
that a i Book of the Law shall constitute an indis
pensable part of the furniture of every Lodge.
That is, i that volume which, by the religion of the
country is believed to contain the revealed will of
the Grand Architect of the universe. Pages 33,
34. Mark believed &lt; by the religion of the
country not by the Masons. To tamely acquiesce
in this degradation of God s Holy Word to the
level of the Hindoo Sbaster, the Zen Davesta of
the worshipers of fire, and the oracles of all the
false religions would outrage even manly honor, to
say nothing of Christian consistency.
" XI. The religion of Freemasonry is a rival to
Christ s religion. That it intrudes upon the do
main of Religion is manifest from its creed, altar,
prayer, priesthood, &c. Chalmers I. Paton, an
English Masonic writer says : It needs little
proof to show that Freemasonry is essentially and
thoroughly of a religious nature. i Religion is
inwrought into the whole system of Masonic cere
monies. Again: It everywhere exhibits the
same religious nature. [See his work on its
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 167
{ Symbolism, Religious Nature and Law of Per
fection/ page 447, and first paragraph in Preface.]
Rev. Geo. Oliver, Lieutenant Grand Commander
of the Supreme Grand Council of the Thirty-third
Degree for England and Wales, says &lt; Freema
sonry was revealed by God himself to the first
man. l Masonry, in the first ages of the world,
was therefore a pure religion. The Order of
the Royal Arch is founded exclusively on religion.
Star in the East, pages 2 and 8. Now, if a reli
gion at all, it must be a rival religion (1) By
claiming time, attention, money, devotion. (2) By,
in some sense, ministering to man s religious na
ture and thus tending to satisfy it. (3) By
claiming to do for man all that Christ proposes
found a universal brotherhood establish univers
al peace regenerate free from sin insure a
passport from the Lodge below to the Grand
Lodge above. We have room for but a few
quotations. Mackey in his Lexicon of Freemasonry,
page 16, says thus: &lt; ACACIAN A- term derived
from anctKia) l innocence, signifies a Mason, who,
by living in strict obedience to the obligations and
precepts of the fraternity, is free from sin. 1 In a
recent work by L. E. Reynolds, P. M., and P. H. P.,
and recommended by the Masonic Trowel of June
15, 1870, as void of ostentation, candid in state
ment, and worthy the study of every Mason who
desires to take a comprehensive and philosophical
view of great principles, and all students and rea-
soners will be delighted with its unfoldings and
168 THE LIFE OP
processes/ we find the following remarkable avow
als : Masonry does not deal with the perversions
of things, but is only illustrative of the regenerate
man. A Lodge in general signifies heaven, or
the dwelling-place of the Lord, and includes all on
earth who are being prepared for heaven. &lt; Each
man who is about to be regenerated, is led by his
guardian angel to the door of the Lodge, of which
it is said, Seek and ye shall find ; knock and it
shall be opened. Regeneration or Masonry
proceeds in progressive order or states (degrees.)
1 Man cannot work or correct the irregularities of
life, until he is clothed with innocence or the badge
of a Mason. He then becomes a divine, spirit
ual man or Master Mason. pp. 101, 237, 188,
219, 214, 131. Now, is not this very candid, and
unostentatious, and philosophical ? And in his l Sys
tem of Speculative Masonry, page 79, Salem Town
says : l Then (in the fourth degree) the Freemason
is assured of his election and^ma/ salvation. But
(4) It claims superior merit. Steinbrenner, in
Origin of Masonry, pages 13, 14, styles it that
higher religion, which indeed embraces the lower
religion of creeds and sects ; and in the category
of sects, it places the Christian religion. And Re-
bold, in the History of Freemasonry, decries the
Christian, Jewish, Mohammedan, and all other reli
gions, and extols Masonry as destined to supplant
them all, and become the ( Universal Religion.
And finally : As a matter of positive experience, in
both Germany and France, the Lodge is largely
REV. ADAM CROOKS, 169
supplanting the Church; especially in the larger
towns and cities. Thus, just as the Lodge goes
up the Church goes down. And John D. Caldwell,
&lt; Grand Secretary of Select Masters in Ohio,
frankly avowed that in this Country also ; Mason
ry is DISINTEGRATING THE CHURCH. Shall the
Church of Christ tolerate, caress, jand warm into
life this destructive rival ? Shall its life-blood con
tinue to be drained thus, as by a vampire ? Shall
it commit suicide by default, and basely and unre
sistingly deliver to its enemies the last hope of
humanity ? May a merciful God avert such dire
calamity ! Surely all true Christians must say,
Amen.
" XII. Being a rival to Christ s religion, it is a
false religion, and lures to ruin.
" 1. Its claims to establish a Universal Brother
hood are false. (1) In its very nature it is re
stricted to the few. Excluding all women and
children, all cripples, and all the aged and indi
gent, it cannot be universal. (2) The basis is
false seeking to unite moral repellents light
and darkness, Christ and Belial. Where is the
wisdom of attempting such impossibility? (3)
The basis is wrong, if even possible. To treat the
true and false, the good and the bad all alike, is
shockingly horrible ; yet this is the Masonic mode
of treating all religions.
"2. Its boastful claims of being cosmopolitan
and of mutual toleration of all religions is also
8
170 THE LIFE OF
false. The Christian law requires prayer only in
the name of Jesus. No man cometh unto the
Father but by me. To such prayer in the Lodges
the Jew, Infidel, Parsee, &c., object. Mutual con
cession would plainly say Let the Christian pray
in the name of Jesus, when he leads, and the Jew,
&c., without it. A concession, by the way, Christ
ians have no right to make. But does Masonry do
this ? By no means, The conscience of the Jew 7
Infidel, Parsee, &c., must be held sacred, but the
law and conscience of the Christian must go into
the dust , Thus does Masonry, down to the sev
enth degree, discriminate against our only Lord
and Savior; and in favor of his enemies.
"3. Its professions to save, are also false. As seen
above, it professes to free from sin, regenerate,
make a man divine, and insure k final salvation.
But there is no other name under heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved but that
of Jesus. Acts, iv : 12. This name the religion of
Masonry rejects.
" This conducts to the final proposition, viz : Free
masonry is essentially anti- Christ. Christianity pro
poses to bring man back to God by Jesus Christ as
the only way. There is one God, and one Media
tor between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
1 Tim. ii: 5, There is no other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be
saved. Acts, iv: 12. No man cometh unto the
Father but by me. John, xiv : 7. Whatsoever
ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the
HEV. ADAM CROOKS. 171
Lord Jcsns. Col. iii: 17 That at the name of
Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven,
and things in earth, and things under the earth ;
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Phil, ii: 10, 11. He is anti-Christ that denieth
the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son,
the same hath not the Father. 1 John, ii : 22, 23.
&lt; There shall be no false teachers among you, who
privily ( stealthily and unobserved ) shall bring
in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that
bought them, and bring upon themselves swift de
struction. 2 Pet. ii: 1. But he that denieth me
before men, shall be denied before the angels of
God. Luke, xii : 9. In the face of all these pas
sages of the Inspired Word, and others which
might be quoted, Freemasonry sets up a religion
professing to save men ; but denies Jesus disal
lowing the use of his name even in its approaches
to God ; and thus assails Christianity in its divine
Centre. Indeed, in the seventh degree, it does not
hesi;ate to cut his name from passages of his Holy
Word which it professes to quote. [See Sickles
Freemasons Monitor, pp. 50, 51.] True, prayer
is sometimes offered in the Lodges in the name of
Jesus, but only by sufferance, and in violation of the
promise to cheerfully conform to all the ancient
established usages and customs of the fraternity.
"Now, unless Christianity is & farce and a cheat,
to ignore Jesus Christ in our approaches to God
in prayer, is jio less an abomination than are bold
172 THE LIFE OP
blasphemy and idolatry ; and Freemasonry is de
fined and proven to be both &lt;a deceiver and an an
ti-Christ: But in the degree of Knights Adepts
of the Eagle or Sun, The Key of Masonry the
fraternity speaks for itself. Hear its words. Be
hold, my dear brother, what you must fight against
and destroy, before you can come to the knowledge
of the true good and sovereign happiness? Well,
what is it ? Harken ! &lt; Behold this monster, which
you must conquer a serpent which we detest as an
idol that is adored by the idiot and vulgar under the
name of RELIGION!!! (Revealed religion is
meant.) l Light on Masonry, pp, 270, 271.
" There you have it in a nutshell, in their own
words ! Is it any marvel that the Lodge &lt; disinte
grates the Church ? Is not this sufficiently anti-
Christ ?
"And it is but due to state that Odd Fellowship
also excludes the name of Jesus from its authorized
formulas of prayer. The same, we believe, is true
of some of the Good Templar and Granger prayers.
All these things being true, it follows with the force
of irresistible sequence :
" 1. That whatever there may be in Freemasonry
and kindred institutions that is commendable, it
cannot compensate for their demerits and essentially
anti- Christian character,
" 2 That it is the sacred duty of all who are not
entangled in the meshes of Masonry and kindred
Christ-rejecting institutions to keep themselves for
ever free therefrom.
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 173
" 3. That it is the sacred duty of all, especially
of every patriot, Christian and Christian minister
thus entangled, to immediately and forever terminate
his connection therewith.
" That it is duty to repent of and not perform a
wicked oath is palpable. Instance the oath of
Herod to Herodias dancing daughter, resulting in
the cruel murder of John the Baptist, that of the
forty men to kill Paul ; and that of David to slay
Nabal, and all the strength of his house. 1 Sam.
xxv : 22. See also, Lev. v: 4, 5.
" 4. That as Christianity is not only negative, but
radically positive, it is the most sacred duty of
every Christian, Christian minister and Church, to
in every legitimate way, both by teaching and dis
cipline, testify against and antagonize a religion
which is at once without equity aud without a
Christ.
" 5. That it is the plainly enjoined duty of every
true Christian, whether minister or layman, to
withdraw fellowship from all religious denomina
tions which persistently refuse to thus testify
against monstrous sin. The Apostle, in a manner
the most solemn, says: Now we command you,
brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that
walketh disorderly. 2 Thes. iii : 6. Again : And
I heard a voice from heaven, saying, Come out of
her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her
sins, and that ye receive not her plagues. Rev.
xviii : 4. Thus it is clear that to remain in fellow-
174 THE LIFE OF
ship with religious bodies which tolerate great and
crying sins, is to become partaker of such sins is
to virtually endorse them as not sins.
tl The power we oppose is mighty. The princes
and peoples of all provinces fall before it, as be
fore the image of gold upon the plains of Dura.
The populace have learned to list with silent awe
and bated breath to its thundering laudations. It
has superinduced its potent influence upon tongue,
and type, and pulpit, and press, and platform, and
colleges, and courts, and Congresses every forma
tive force in society and thus well-nigh bound
both Church and State as with fetters of iron.
There is no moment to be lost in taking cowardly
counsel of unmanly fears. If this foe is mighty,
truth is almighty. Enough to know that our cause
is just ; and that immortal interests are involved,
If we can innocently ignore Christ in prayer once,
we can always. And there is no neutral ground.
We must take sides. To surrender Christ, is vir
tually to surrender Christianity. In the name of all
that is sacred in human destiny, these pages plead
against a surrender so costly. With such a cause,
shall we plead in vain ? Ministers of the gospel,
with the vows of God upon your souls, what do
you say ? Reader : the one question for you to set
tle is WILL YOU AT ANY COST BE LOYAL TO JESTJS
CHRIST ? He is appointed our final Judge. If we
deny Him, He will deny us. The verdicts of
Time are of little account. Be sure that your an
swer is such, as the decisions of Eternity will appro-
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 175
bate. Heaven, in mercy, impart the grace needed
to fearlessly, and by all legitimate means, antago
nize banded treason against the purity of the
Church, integrity of the State, and the world s only
Savior."
In June 1870, he wrote as follows:
DUTY RESPECTING^ THE TEMPERANCE MOVE
MENT.
" Now that the Heaven-insulting and Man-
victimizing crime of chattel slavery has been
abolished in this Country, the patriot, philanthro
pist and Christian can bestow more exclusive
attention upon the soul-and-body-destroying evil
of the ruin -traffic. Human duty is one of the
greatest thoughts that can occupy human attention-
And duty respecting the temperance movement is
well worthy the most candid and careful consid
eration.
" Begin with self. We need scarcely say that
it is the individual duty to be consistently temper
ate. No man has a right to mar and sear the
handy-workmanship of his Creator by self-inflic
tions in any form. Intemperance involves the
highest possible inflictions upon the entire man,
It is murder by protracted process, perpetrated
upon his physical being, his social nature, his in
tellectual powers, and upon his deathless spirit.
It is a matchless wrong inflicted upon self, which
no man has, or can have, a right to perpetrate.
Murder is the greatest wrong that can possibly be
176 THE LIFE OF
inflicted; and drunkenness is self-murder in the
worst possible form.
u - Next to -personal, is parental duty. Those
who are false to self, will not be true to family, or
any other interest. Heaven has committed to
parents the fearful responsibility of training their
children. Upon them devolved the unspeakably
delicate duty of laying the foundation stones in the
superstructure of their children s character, and
thus to an extent in the presence of which an.
angel might well tremble, determine their children s
destiny, both for this and the future world. The
fiery cup of death and damnation should be care
fully kept from their tender lips. Early In life,
upon the father and mother s knee they should be
made Intelligent as to its dreadful effects, and
taught to shim it as they would the bite of a ser
pent, or sting of an adder. All domestic wines or
juices, having the least particle of alcohol should
be excluded the domestic circle, as Satan and his
legions were excluded from heaven. The principle
of total abstinence from all that can intoxicate
should be inwrought into the very web-work of
their souls. What parent would not welcome the
deadly knife of the assassin to the heart of his
child, rather than the thrice deadly fang of this
liquid serpent of perdition and the woeful fate of
the drunkard? Then, by the love you bear for
those precious, priceless jewels of immortal worth,
see that no efforts are untried to fortify them
against all possibility of a doom so dreadful. As
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 177
Hamilcar pledged his son Hannibal, when but
nine years old, to eternal hostility against Rome,
so in like manner, let all our children be pledged
to ceaseless war upon this chief enemy of God and
man. By every consideration sacred to a parent s
heart, we solemnly adjure them all to the faithful
performance of this duty.
" But the sphere of duty is not confined to self
and the home-circle. There is the place to begin,
but not to stop. We are interwoven with the
warp and woof of society. In spite of ourselves,
our lives must, for weal or for woe, affect the
fortunes of others. This fact constitutes the sub-
basis of an enlarged area of obligation. (1.) We
are to do others no harm. (2.) We are to do all
possible good, both to their souls and bodies ; and
(3.) We are to protect them against wrong at the
hands of others. Not enough that we do our
neighbor no harm. Not enough that we do him
all the good we can personally. We may not in
nocently stand by and permit the infliction of
injuries by others. These principles are funda
mental to the social compact; and applied to the
subject of Temperance, they (1.) Forbid all
agency, direct or indirect, in the manufacture, sale,
purchase, or use of intoxicating liquors, as a
beverage. (2.) Require that we should do our
utmost to influence all others to practice habits of
strictest temperance. (3,) That, by forces, both
moral and legal, we prevent all others from the
8*
178 THE LIFE OF
worse than murderous traffic in liquors that can
intoxicate. And while it is our most boundeu
duty to do thus personally, it is no less our duty,
in all ways that are proper, to combine and co-act
with others for the realization of these results,
As we would drive the demon, alcohol, from the
paradise of home, so should we banish it from the
Eden of the neighborhood and community.
" The Churches have a duty to do in this regard.
No pulpit can be innocently silent on this subject.
The ministry may not imitate the example of the
Priest and Levite and quietly pass by the poor
drunkard who has fallen among thieves, and been
stripped not only of money and clothing, but of
reputation, reason and manhood as well, and left
more than half-dead. To the limits of ability, they
must be good Samaritans, and employ their utmost
powers, personal and official, for the speedy over
throw of this monstrous iniquity. They should
put themselves in personal contact with the miser
able drunkard and his wretched family, and by all
means possible, seek their salvation. They should
not only denounce drunkenness, but with rebukes
doubly blasting, brand to blistering, the infamous
traffic which causes it all ; and with scourge, made
of large or small cords, they should drive from the
temple all engaged in the infernal commerce. It
is a most disgraceful sight to see the poor victim
of inebriety shut within the limits of gloomy prison
walls, while his more guilty destroyer is welcomed
to the highest and softest seat in the synagogue.
&EV. ADAM CROOKS. 179
The cry of the^ slave rent the heavens, and the
popular Churches of the land were deaf to his cry-
In the name of God and humanity let them not sin
in like manner in relation to intemperance.
"Three things are necessary to the compassment
of this reformation. (1) Public sentiment must
be toned up to fully meet the demands of the hour.
This must be done by the triple power of the
pulpit, the platform and the press. (2) The en
forcement of the laws already in existence against
the rum-traffic: and (3) The enactment and en
forcement of all such laws as are needed. Nothing
short of this covers the whole ground.
"But all this means work. Forces must be or
ganized, monies must be raised and appropriated.
There must be work in the Churches in pulpit
and pew in the Sabbath-schools, in the communi
ties, in families and everywhere. Results as dif
ficult as they are vast, are to be realized. And ia
this God-honoring, and man-saving work, let no
Wesleyan minister or member be found in the rear
of the foremost of God s embattled hosts. The
forces of the enemy are organized and massed.
Their attitude is insolently defiant. Hence, we
must organize, mass forces, and " up and at them."
Let us have " organized victory," and with the
blessing of God, have it without delay."
In July, 1870, he wrote this editorial :
ENTIRE CONSECRATION.
41 Under this impressive caption we wish to an-
180 THE LIFE OF
swer two questions. First Whatsit? Second-
Why should we make it?
" What is entire Consecration ? To Consecnite
is to set apart; to dedicate to a holy purpose. En
tire Consecration is the setting apart of all, with
out reservation or qualification; to the service of
God.
"1. It implies an open, public committal to the
service of God. Secret discipleship is excluded,
No person can make entire Consecration to Go&lt;J
and keep that fact in concealment. This light can
not be put under a bushel. If the act of Consecra
tion is kept in concealment, that very fact proves
that it is not entire. The cross of public avowal
is not taken up.
"2. It implies the Consecration of the whole be
ing. All the powers of affection, all of learning,
of logic, of oratory, of social or civil position ; all
of friends and friendship -all that immediately ap
pertains to the person, must be fully at the Divine
disposal. No part of the price must be kept back,
No separate interest no antagonizing will is al
lowable. Its language is, without qualification or
mental reservation, Lord, here am I; send me/
Send me to a hard place or an easy one, a high po
sition or a low one, along a rough road or smooth
one ; give me many or few friends ; let me be rich
or poor, sick or well, at home with its quiet and
plenty and comforts, or on desert wastes, or amid
mountains of perpetual ice and snow ; in hunger-
ings or thirstings, in weariness and labor, in perils
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 181
by land, in perils by sea, or in perils among false
brethren ; in prison or in palaces, in enthronement
or martyrdom, in service or sacrifice, just as God
shall order. The Divine will must be enthroned
supreme in all that appertains to our person.
Obedience must be unqualified and universal.
Every duty faithfully performed ; every suffering
patiently endured; even life itself must not be
withheld.
- 3. Having said thus much, it is scarcely neces
sary to say that time, and property, and all
property interests, must be wholly given to God.
Every day and every dollar must be esteemed and
used as belonging to Him, and in such manner as
in our best judgment will most conduce to His high
est glory. Of course this necessarily involves the
life-calling and the bounds of our habitation. In
settling these questions we must have primal refer
ence to the Divine glory,
" 4. All this is to be done, not mechanically or
reluctantly, but cheerfully and heartily from a clear
apprehension that it is our "reasonable service."
Here is voluntary and perpetual self-abnegation
the deeding, signing, sealing, conveying and deliv
ering, of all and singular, of self and appurte
nances, forever, to God.
" This continuous act of Consecration finds faint
illustration in the enlistment and vows of the sol
dier. Having enlisted and assumed his obligation,
the soldier is the exclusive property of the Govern
ment all his powers, all his interests, all his
1 82 THE LIFE OP
services, and even his life, are its property. But
the services, sacrifices, and sufferings of the soldier
are coersive ; whereas all the Christian gives, does
or endures in the cause of his Master through life,
is voluntary, from the promptings of apprehended
obligation and of supreme preference.
" But why this entire Consecration ?
" 1. Because it is right. We belong to God.
He has made us. In Him we live, and move, and
have our being. We live at His expense. And
we are His purchased possession. He bought us
with a price. And oh, what a price ! Thus, all
we are and all we have, belong, of right, to God.
What can be more reasonable than that we render
unto God that which is his due ?
"2. It is our reasonable service because it is
the best use we can make of our powers. It is not
only right, but it is wise. To live with any other
intent, to any other purpose, is to prostitute our
powers to all that is calamitous to self and to oth
ers, with reference to both time and eternity. This
is infinite madness. But entire consecration is the
devotion of our powers to the highest and holiest
of all purposes is to make them productive of the
greatest good possible to self and all others, both
for this and the future state. The wisdom of this
is equalled only by the folly and utter madness of
its opposite. Here holiest duty and highest inter
est are co-alescent.
" 3. But God requires nothing more of us than
he has done and proposes to do for us. He gave
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 183
His Son to service, to suffering, and to death, for
us. He kept back no part of the price. He drank
the cup to its utmost dregs. With his expiring
breath, he declared that the work of our redemp.
tion l is finished. And for the future, lie offers
all that is possible for Heaven to bestow. If we
will but become his people, he will become our
God ; Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and all
things become ours. What an enriching con
tract is this ! How little we give ! How much we
receive ! Human thought cannot conceive. Angel-
tongue cannot tell.
"4. But entire Consecration is an unalterable
condition of salvation. This lesson is not sufficient
ly taught; and surely it is not sufficiently appre
hended. It is usually conceded that a few eminent
Christians and ministers of the Gospel should be
thus wholly consecrated, but not so with ordinary
Christians. It is to be feared that so-called ordi
nary Christians are not Christians at all. Is not
the evidence but too conclusive, that too many pro
fessed Christians and Christian ministers live to
themselves? &lt;By their fruits ye shall know
them, True, for the most part, young converts
have but limited views of entire Consecration ; but
the Consecration is fully up to the conception.
This must be true in all after life. As the concep
tion of Consecration, in import and duty, develops,
the act of Consecration must become proportion
ately more complete.
" 5. Consecration is the precise point of union
184 THE LIFE OF
between the human and the Divine. When all is
placed on the altar, then comes down the Baptism
of power. Are not this Consecration Jand attend
ant baptism the great want of the Church ? Is not
this the key to its want of general efficiency ?
" This matter is eminently personal. Reader ;
How is this with you ? Are you consecrated -
saved unqualifiedly obedient ; or is the work but
partial and superficial ? Have you the baptism of
power? Will you now make the Consecration
complete ? Until this is done there is a contro
versy between God and thee. Oh, terminate this
controversy at once ; and become the material of
vhich martyrs are made, which is a blessing to
earth, and for which await the awards of an end
less heaven 1"
CONVERSION OF CHILDREN.
He was very much interested in the conversion
of children. He was earnest in his teachings on
this subject. "Bring the children early to Jesus"
was his plea. I give a few extracts from his-
writings on Early Piety.
11 There is nothing more beautiful, more import
ant, nor that should be promoted with greater
assiduity than early piety. With what pleasura
ble interest we read of Joseph, and Samuel, and
David, and Josiah, and of Timothy who knew the
holy Scriptures from a child. No marvel that
David said, l Come ye children, hearken unto me,
I will teach you the fear of the Lord; nor that
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 185
Solomon counseled remembrance of the Creator
in the days of youth; nor that Jesus said to the
coining generations, Suffer little children to come
unto me, and forbid them not.
" For years we have been deeply impressed with
the conviction, that neglect of the children has
been a most fruitful source of the weakness and
inefficiency of the Church. Baptized children
should sustain a relation to the Church similar to
that sustained by the Catechumen to the Primitive
Church. They should be esteemed and treated
as candidates for its full fellowship and immuni
ties. It is not to be doubted that childhood is
the fulcrum, and early religious instruction and
discipline, the more than Archimedean lever with
which the moral world is to be turned over.
Persia educated her children to temperance, in
dustry, and a prudent economy, and thereby gave
strength, greatness and perpetuity to the State.
Let the Church but educate her children to an in
telligent and vigorous piety, and she will soon
overthrow the great Babylon of sin. And the
sooner the Church comes to fully understand this
concealed magazine of power, the better.
" But we wish to speak more immediately of the
great advantages of early piety. And,
" 1. It is always genuine. Children know but
little of those sinister motives which may induce
to a mercenary, and hence, hypocritical piety.
Their eye is single ; and hence, the whole body is
full of light. This is of primal consideration.
186 THE LIFE OF
" 2. Children do not have to overcome the force
of evil habits early formed, nor unlearn what they
have learned amiss. The soil of their hearts has
not been pre-occupied with those noxious weeds.
When once permitted to spring up, the roots strike
deep, and adhere with most troublesome tenacity.
Those who early become pious are at once saved
immense labor and annoyance. And this is a most
happy economy.
" 3. Early piety is the only safeguard against
the adverse influences of a world which is no friend
to grace. Dangers stand thick through all the
ground. They throng man s pathway from the
cradle to the grave. The human heart naturally
gravitates to earth and to sin. The heart of the
young is most prolific, susceptible and unsuspect
ing. Nothing but positive piety can render the
child proof against the joint action of unfriendly,
internal and external forces. If you would not
have the souls of the dear children polluted by sin,
their characters stained by crime, and would have
their eternal interests secure from most imminent
peril, early sow the seeds and vigilantly cultivate
the plants of piety in their young and tender
hearts.
" 4. Principles first imbibed and habits first
formed are at once the most powerful and the
most lasting. Hence, the nervous language of the
Wise Man : " Train up a child in the way he
should go ; and when he is old he will not depart
from it." But a child left to himself bringeth
REV. ADAM CROOKS, 187
his mother to shame. How immensely important
that Satan should not, and that God and the soul
should have the benefit of this fundamental law of
our being.
" 5. Jf persons do not become pious while young,
there is danger they never will ; and this danger
increases with each successive day and hour of sin.
Nothing is more true than that continuance in sin
hardens men in it. Conscience becomes callous,
pasnion inflamed, sensibilities corrupted and per
verted, and the will more and more perverse, until
the case becomes appalling hopeless. Sin is fear
fully self-perpetuating.
" 6. In addition to all this, there is but a step-
between every human personality and death-r-young
as well as old.
Great God ! on what a slender thread
Hang everlasting things I
Th eternal state of all the dead
Upon life s feeble strings !
" 7. Early piety alone can promise time in which
to develop to maturity the Christian graces, and
hence to furnish the world with the most admirable
specimens of Christian character.
" If the harvest is either rich or abundant, the
sowing must be seasonable. All agree that child
hood and youth are life s seed-time. Those who do
not become pious until mature in life, must needs
contend against a double disadvantage. First, they
have but little time in which to grow up to the
fullness of the stature of men and women in Christ
188 THE LIFE OF
Jesus ; and second, they have the stubborn force
of long continued habit against which to contend.
Much more to do, and less time for the work.
" 8. Time and opportunity to labor in the vine
yard of the Lord to bless the world, and to make
life a grand practical success, make their plea for
early piety. How deep and painful the regrets of
those who worse than throw away a large portion
of a life so brief. How blessed to give all of time
and strength and life, to cheerful co-operative effort
with God and all the good in the great work of hu
man salvation. An entire offering on this holy altar ,
\ow good and acceptable to God.
9. Early piety affords the best foundation for
a substantial character. It makes strong in knowl
edge, in faith, in deep and varied experience, in
purified affections, in husbanded energies, high pur
poses, holy habits, and joyful anticipations ! Strong
to resist evil. There was divine wisdom displayed
in permitting those who had grown up amid the
idolatrous practices of the Egyptians to die in the
Wilderness, and in leading their children who knew
not these practices, into the land of Promise. So
does early piety give strength to grapple with the
great crimes of any age to exterminate moss-
covered errors, and raze to their foundations the
temples of time-honored crimes.
If Christian parents and the Church would re
spond to this urgent call, then must they do as
commanded in Deut. xi: 18 21. Lay up the
words of the law in their hearts and their souls,
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 189
and bind them for a sign upon their hands, and let
them be as frontlets between their eyes ; and teach
them to the children, speaking of them when they
sit in the house, when they walk by the way, when
they lie down and when they rise up, and write
them upon the door-posts of the house and upon
the gates. Alsoxxxi: 11 13. When they come
to appear before the Lord in the place which he
shall choose, (in their religious assemblages,) they
shall gather the people together, men, women and
children, and the strangers within the gate, that
they may hear, and learn, and fear the Lord, and
observe to do all the words of the law."
CHRISTIAN PATIENCE.
From an editorial upon this subject, I clip the
following :
" The man of tranquil, patient perseverance is in
himself a moral host; whereas, without patience,
although in intellect a giant, yet in moral force he
can be but a pigmy. So, if we would be God-like,
we must be patient. How through the heavy
tramp of the ages, God works and waits. How
during four thousand years he laid the foundation
for redemption. In this great work there is no
haste. Christ did not come till the fullness of
time. And how he yet works and waits for the
consummation of the redemptive scheme. He is in
no haste ; nor need he be. The ages to come are
his in which to work. Sitting on the circle of the
190 THE LIFE OF
heavens, he surveys the thousand millions of
earth, witnesses their deadly quarrels, brethren
cheating brethren, the wildness and greed for gold,
the thankless ingratitude which never sees the
hand that feeds them, the oppression and enslave
ment of millions, the madness and slaughter of
red-visaged war, the world lying in the wicked
one, yet there comes no outcry irom the heavens
to still all this unrest; but gently, and patiently,
the ministry of nature and of Providence proceeds
from year to year; as gently, patiently, and un
remittingly as if universally greeted with gratitude
and praise. Then, Reformer, Lover of Mankind,
Christian Minister, take for your model the Great
God, and work and wait. But finally Patient
continuance in well doing alone, is crowned with
glory, honor, immortality and eternal life. Then,
let patience have her perfect work."
From an editorial upon "Does God Work by
Great or Small Means ?"
" These enumerated examples of Divine interpo
sition indicate with unerring accuracy, the place of
the power by which the achievements of the Chris
tian Church, in her entire history, have been ac
complished. Accordingly, we read : Not by
might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the
Lord of enduement with power from on high
of earthen vessels being chosen, that the excel
lence of the power 1 may be of God, arid not of
men and of l weak things, and things that are
not bringing to naught things that are mighty.
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 191
The disciples were weak, and yet they triumphed.
Primitive Christians were weak, and yet they
triumphed. Luther was weak, and yet he triumph
ed. Wesley and coadjutors were weak, and yet
they triumphed. Early Abolitionists were weak,
and yet they triumphed. So, numerically, we
Wesleyans are weak, and the things to be confound
ed are mighty, but if we know the place of the hid
ing of God s power, we shall triumph. UNION
WITH GOD ALOXE, IS THE PLACE OP POWER. If in
any case, this union is not complete, LET IT BE
MADE SO WITHOUT DELAY."
In 1871 the General Conference convened in
Syracuse. Mr. Crooks was chosen President. At
this Conference Rev. L. N. Stratton was elected
associate editor with Mr. Crooks, who was also
reappointed Agent. This Conference recommended
that as soon as possible arrangements should be
made to build a new and more commodious pub
lishing house. They authorized the Agent to open
a subscription immediately for the purpose of rais
ing the needed funds. This work was commenced
at once. "The people had a mind to work,"
and rallied nobly. A few months after, among his
editorials, I find the following, aimed at the " love
of money":
FOLLY S CARNIVAL.
" Folly s Carnival ! What is it ? Is it spending
the long, long nights in the frenzied whirl of the
giddy dance ? Without dispute, this is bad enough,
192 THE LIFE OF
and quite too much savors of the senseless pleas
ures of the night or savage life to find place or
favor in the noon-day of Christian civilization. But
this is not what is meant. Then, is it the uncom-
pensated surrender of life, liberty and the pursuit
of intelligent and virtuous happiness at the debas
ing shrine of fashion, heartless as it is fickle ? While
it must be admitted that this is bad beyond the
possibilty of proper characterization, yet it is not
the thing intended. Nor yet is it the desperate
madness which impels an immortal being in pursuit
of substantial good amid the dehumanizing slums of
beastly sensuosity ; nor firey floods of intemperance ;
nor yet the desolating waves of red-visaged war,
after which this earnest mission is sent. The thing
of which we write, is none other than that almost
universally dominant love of money which an in
spired Apostle so fitly styles the root of all evil.
For who does not know that pre-eminently, money
is the Moloch of America? The name of its wor
shipers is -Legion; for they are many. In the
nervous language of Pollock, never more true than
now :
Gold many hunted sweat and bled for gold ;
Waked all the night, and labored all the day.
And what was this allurement, dost thou ask ?
A dnst dug from the bowels of the earth,
Which, being cast into the fire, came out
A shining thing that fools admired, and called
A god ; and in devout and humble plight
Before it kneeled, the greater to the less ;
And on its altar sacrificed ease, peace,
"RET. ADAM CROOKS. 193
Truth, faith, integrity, good conscience, friends,
Love, charity, benevolence, and all
The sweet and tender sympathies of life}
And to complete the horrid murderous rite
And signalize their folly, offered up
Their souls, and an eternity of bliss,
To gain them what I an hour of dreaming joy,
A feveri&h hour that hasted to be done,
And ended in the bitterness of woe.
* * * *
Of all God made upright.
And in their nostrils breathed a living soul,
Most fallen, most prone, most earthly, mostdebased^
Of alt that sold Eternity for Time,
None bargained on so easy terms with death.
Illustrious fcol! Nay, most inhuman wretch I
He sat among his bags, and with a look
Of which hell might be ashamed, drove the poor
Away utialmsed ; and midst abundance died
Sorest of evils ! died of utter want.
"The root of all evil. The infernal fountain
which feeds every form of vice and crime. The
accursed rock on which countless thousands make
shipwreck of immortal wealth. The debasing altar
before which demonizing worship is offered at the
expense of an eternity of bliss. Alas, that un
numbered thousands bearing the name of a sinless
Christ crowd the broad aisles of this temple ac
cursed and abandoned of God. and whose open
doors are the gilded gates to perdition.
" How this insatiable greed for gold congeals the
liquid streams of mercy for the poor. How it
paralyzes the arm of Christian enterprise, whether
home or foreign. How it withholds tithes from the
9
194 THE LIFE OF
Lord s bouse, dooms to penury his ministry, and
impoverishes to beggary the coffers of Christian
charity. How it repels from all place in God s
sanctuary the wretched children of poverty, but
welcomes to highest seat the man with gold ring or
woman in costly apparel. How un-Christ-like it
renders all things bearing his name. How it feasts
the flesh, but dooms the soul to endless Lent Star
vation ! How its hoarded heaps blight the bloom
ing hopes of fond parents, by withholding from the
children the needed stimulants to healthful enter
prise, and meanwhile dooming them the envied
victims of the consuming vices of costly idleness,
thus entailing the double curse of dwarfing the
beautiful and good, and developing to horrid pro
portions the sordid and selfish. Hence, the all-
prevalent lameness and blasting throughout the
borders of the Zion of this money-worshiping age.
Heaven pity us 1 This is indeed Folly s dreadful
Carnival.
" Dear reader : Introvert your attention ; and
answer to your conscience and your God ! Does
the fatal virus of this firey serpent circulate death
through all the parts and powers of your soul ?
By all that is hallowed in eternal interests, let not
this be so."
ONCE MORE IN NORTH CAROLINA.
" Here I am, safe and sound in old North Caio
Una, after an absence of twenty-one years. I have
not been to visit old familiar scenes, but matters
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 195
have greatly changed, I assure you. The man at
whose hotel I stop was foreman of an United States
Grand Jury which indicted six hundred Ku-Klux,
all under bonds, to be tried in September. Some
of these, ministers of the M. E. Church, South.
Am feeling quite like an American citizen here,
where slavery once ruled as with a rod of iron and
a knife of steel.
" Twenty-five years ago the coming September,
we came to North Carolina. Then Slavery, both
in fact and spirit, was dominant. The Southern
wing of the Methodist Episcopal Church had seced
ed, because the North was unwilling to have a
slave-holding Bishop. Hearing that the Wesleyan
Methodists were anti-slavery, forty citizens of Guil-
ford county met in convention and adopted the
Wesleyan Methodist discipline, and applied to the
Allegheny Conference for a man to feed them on
the bread of life. To this call we responded,
knowing well that it was at the peril of life. Al
though an entire stranger and threatened with every
violence, yet God gave us prosperity.
* * * * *
" Jesse McBride was called to cultivate the
ground already occupied in Carolina, and we gave
ourself to the work of extending our borders into
fields beyond. Another year of peril and prosper
ity throughout the whole work. Several camp-
meetings were held, and with excellent results.
Brother Bacon entered upon his third year in Vir
ginia, McBride upon his second and we our fourth,
196 THE LIFE OF
in Carolina. But increased prosperity was attend
ed with increased danger. All the time violence
had been threatened; but now threats were more
frequent and more fierce. The enemy saw clearly
that they must dig up the sapling quickly or other
wise they would be unable to cut down the tree.
# # # * *
" Just as we knew they would be, flushed by this
victory in driving McBride, with ten-fold determina
tion they turned their batteriea upon us ; and by
threats, and mobbings, and a reward offered for our
arrest, they waged war upon us from May until Au
gust, the close of the Conference year, when with
sadness, we turned our face to home and friends,
leaving in this slavery-ruled land six Wesleyan
Meeting-houses, and some five hundred members.
Very many sold out and moved into States not
cursed with the withering blight of Slavery.
" Yielding to successive calls, four years later,
Daniel Worth returned to his native State, preached
extensively for several months, was arrested for
circulating Helper s Impending Crisis, and after
some months imprisonment, returned to the free
North and West. But Bacon and McBride and
Worth are all dead. Died doubtless as the results
of labors performed and hardships experienced in
the South. Of these four, the writer alone survives.
* # # * *
" The war came on and freed the slaves. The
seeds of truth sown in other years still live in many
hearts. Hence, repeated calls again for Wesleyan
REV. ADAM CROOKS.
197
preachers. Last autumn, the Missionary Board of
the Indiana Conference and the Connectional Board
jointly, responded by sending brethren E. Brook
shire and R. L. Fisher to rebuild the walls of our
spiritual Jerusalem.
"Immediately upon arrival they engaged in a
revival at Shady Grove, resulting in nearly one
hundred conversions and seventy-two accessions.
At this place, Sabbath, the 21st July, we had the
pleasure of dedicating to the worship of Almighty
God a neat and well-proportioned frame structure?
fourteen feet from floor to ceiling, and twenty-four
by thirty-four; when all painted and furnished, to
be the best Methodist rural meeting-house in three
counties. And better still, notwithstanding the
sore pressure of the times, when all completed, is
to be free from debt. No one not knowing the cir
cumstances, can appreciate how great this achieve
ment is. The membership is composed of excellent
material, substantial heads of families, and godly,
zealous young men and women. A revival in pro
gress this week ; and up to this Thursday, a number
of conversions and twenty-fire accessions. In all,
they have three meeting-houses, and deeds covering
thirteen acres, including a four-acre-lot on which a
fourth meeting-house is to be erected. The entire
membership is about one hundred and twenty-five ;
and new and inviting fields are still opening; so
that at the close of the first year, prospects are
good for a bright future.
"Although we have been worked pretty hard,
198 THE LIFE OP
averaging a sermon for each day, our visit has been
a real pleasure."
HIGH POINT, N. C., July, 1872.
Mr. Crooks was absent from the office fourteen
days, and in that time preached fourteen sermons.
More than one-half of that time, day and night,
was spent traveling, and in July, too. He was not
well when he returned and did not fully recover
from the journey before he commenced the round
of Fall Conferences. He was soon taken sick, and
for a number of weeks was a great sufferer ; yet
he attended all the Conferences and with the help
of kind brethren sold his books and transacted the
usual amount of Conference business, beside press
ing the claims of the fund for the new Publishing
House. He had nearly recovered from the effect
of his illness when he returned and was ready for
the work waiting for him at the office.
The following article was written in August,
1873. Mr. Crooks felt more and more the impor
tance of our continued existence as a denomination.
He could see a vast field of labor, which we might
occupy if we would only step forward in the line
of duty. He saw those fields &lt; already white for
the harvest," but the laborers were few." It seem -
ed to him that there was a great work to be done
by us especially. As in the past we had to stand
almost single-handed in opposing the popular sins
of the day, so in the present we were in the front
ranks of the battle between Christ and Belial, be
cause other denominations are not willing to bold-
fcEV. ADAM CROOKS. ID 9
ly confront sin in high places, and follow the " meek
and lowly Jesus," whithersoever he goetL
" OUR WORK NOT FINISHED.
In connection with, and immediately subsequent
to the recent " reunion" held by a few ex-Wesley-
ans in Cleveland, Ohio, very strong asseverations
are being made that our distinctive work as a de
nomination is finished, and that therefore our con
tinued existence involves schism , and heace, sin
against God and his Church. A grave allegation
indeed ! We repel it. Hear us patiently.
" At this reunion Rev. John McEldowney is re
ported as saying &lt; To me, it is dishonoring to God
for brethren remaining, not to recognize the work
as finished. I cannot see how it is possible that
a fraction can maintain a schism by remaining sepa
rate. The New York Christian Advocate takes up
the above pronunciamento in the words following:
We fail to see any good reason for the mainte
nance of the separate existence of the &lt; Wesleyan
body, now that they have gained every point upon
which they originally dissented and separated.
And Dr. Crooks of The Methodist, also of New
York, prolongs the refrain in the following lusty
language: Of all our separatists, the Wesleyans
would seem to have the least reason to remain out
of the old family. In a case like theirs, it becomes
a grave question whether continued disunion is a
mere matter of expediency or whether it is not sin !
The conscience of the Church needs to be ap-
200 THE LIFE OF
pealed to on this subject not merely its prejudices
or its interests. Charity, fellowship, brotherhood/
co-operation are these not virtues in the kingdom
of Christ on earth ? Many a banner-bearer of sec
tarian division will find himself recognized, at the
last day. as only a traitor to the common cause of
the common Master.
" There, we like that close-jointed way of putting:
this great subject this appeal to conscience, and
the judgment. Doctor Crooks is right in placing
our Church relationship just where the Bible places
it, and just where we have held it for many years
and stiU ho d it upon the firm basis of eternal
right. And we add ; this is exactly what has kept
us out of the old family of the Methodist Episco
pal Church, and still keeps us out.
11 But these good Doctors will please make note
that their sword is double-edged cutting both
ways. While it is conceded to be duty to hold
fellowship with true Christians, on the other hand
it is equally duty to refuse fellowship to those wha
are not. And while we may not innocently split
the Church the body of Christ neither may we
innocently wed that body to sin, and thus commit
high sacrilege. l Charity, fellowship, brotherhood,,
co-operation, are beautiful all of them beautiful
but they must not find ultimate foundation in
compromise with :dn, nor in truce with the devil.
Hence the pungent language of the Apostle What,
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ?
What communion hath light with darkness ? And
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 201.
what concord has Christ with Belial ? Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith
the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I
will receive you, and will be a Father unto you,
and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the
Lord Almighty/ Thus plainly, our being the
children of God is conditioned upon our being sep
arate from the unclean. Again : the Spirit through
the Revelator says And I heard another voice
from heaven sajing, Come out of her my people,
that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye
receive not her plagues. And with solemn em
phasis the Apostle says I command you in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you withdraw
yourselves from every brother who walketh disor
derly/ Moral lepers have no more place in the
fellowship of the saints than physical lepers had in
the camp of Israel. To affiliate religiously with
evil doers is to become partner both in their sins
and their plagues. Hence, we may &lt; dishonor
God and become f traitors to the common cause of
the common Master by seeking to promote unity at
-the expense of purity.
"And mark well, this trinity of Doctors teach
the duty to return, but only upon the hypothesis
that our distinctive work is finished that every
point of original dissent has been gained. The
plain implication of their language is, that if our
work is not finished, our continued existence is all
right. We think exactly so, and are glad to agree
9*
202 THE LIFE OF
with these learned Doctors on this central principle,
But are their assumed facts well founded ? Is
our work finished? Has every point of original
dissent been gained ? These are the questions
pertinent. But before answering, we wish to pre
mise,
" (1.) No marvel that Doctors Crooks and Curry ,
and such as they, sec no cause for our continued
existence ; for years ago they were denouncing as
schismatics, the very men whom they now laud as
the greatest of moral heroes. Such laudation is
of questionable commendation.
"(2.) If even all the points of original dissent
have been gained, it does not therefore follow that
there are now no valid reasons for our separate
existence. Other causes may have arisen during
the past thirty years ; or other good reasons may
have existed then, not incorporated into the orig
inal platform. This is self-manifest.
"(3.) Every one of these Doctors know that
Schism, as originally used, had no allusion to de
nominational unity that denominational lines do
not bound the area of Christian fellowship ; and
that this talk about schism in such connection, is
unworthy their learning. And as to the talk about
our return to the bosom of the old family, it is a
family with which the majority of us never found
domicile.
"But we now come to the facts. What are they ?
Is our work finished ? Has every point of origi-
fcEV. ADAM CROOKS. 203
na,l dissent been gained ? The facts are substan
tially these:
" 1. It is true that chattle slavery no longer ex
ists in this Country. But it is equally true that
while it did exist, it found sanctuary in the Meth
odist Episcopal Church. True, also, that when at
last it was abolished by the war-power of the na
tion, instead of sackcloth and penitent confession
of complicity with the monstrous iniquity, we hear
boastful thanks to God for long continued position
in the front ranks of anti-slavery Churches, Such
vaunting sacrilege might well appall heaven ! This
is the manner in which that point was gained.
" 2. Great credit is claimed for having adopted
lay delegation in General Conference. But what
kind of lay delegation is it ? Is it equal represen
tation, as is ours ? It is not. No more than two
laymen can be elected from within the bounds of
any one Annual Conference ; whereas no such re
striction obtains in relation to the ministry. But
even these lay delegates are not elected by nor
representatives of the unofficial laity. They are
elected by Electoral Colleges; and the members
of these Colleges are elected by the Quarterly
Conferences, as the representatives of the Quar
terly Conferences, which are the creatures and
agents of preachers rather than of the people.
In the Government of the Methodist Episcopal
Church the unofficial laity have no voice are a
nullity* Only think of a million of members totally
disfranchised! This is all that has been gained.
204 THE LIFE OF"
Just this ; and nothing more. And is not this lay
representation with a vengeance ? Something over
which to vociferate, The work finished ! The work
finished ! In great haste truly, to have the work
finished.
" This article is long enough : but we must be
heard further. These Doctors accuse us denomi
nationally, of high crime against the Church of
Christ. We have given credit for what has been
done. Now let us see what has not been done.
"Well, (1.) The Episcopacy has been neither
abolished nor modified. The Board oi Bishops is
larger now than ever before. And they still pos--
sess the same unlimited power over the time, labors
ard place of habitation of all the thousands of
their ministers, as in the past. (2.) There still
exists the three orders in their ministry, of Deacon,
Elder and Bishop ; while with us it is fundamental
that there is but one order that of Elder and
that all Elders are equal. (3.) With us the local
Churches are independent in all questions of merely
local interest. Our Churches receive and disci
pline their own members choose their own pastors^
and each Class elects its own leader. But not one
of these rights is known in the Methodist Episco
pal Church. (4.) With us the pastoral relation is
matter of mutual agreement between pastor and
people. And even the congregations of the Old
Catholics in Germany have this free right of choice
of the men who minister to them in things holy.
But in the Methodist Episcopal Church here in
fcEV. ADAM CROOKS. 205
Republican America, no such right is allowed ! In
this Church neither of the parties most directly in
terested has any voice. With her, twelve men
called Bishops absorb this sacred right of all the
pastors and congregations of this Church of more
than a million. (5.) With us is secured by disci
plinary provision, the rights of all our ministers
and members irrespective of complexion or race ;
and while by Constitutional amendment a similar
equality of rights is secured to citizens of the
United States, yet up to this date, the Methodist
Episcopal Church has no such provision* (6.) In
our Yearly Conferences the laity have an equal
voice with the ministry. But lay representation is
not known in the Annual Conferences of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. (7.) So also in our
General Conference is equal lay representation.
But as shown above, in the General Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal Church there is only a
kind of quasi Quarterly Conference representation.
In affairs of Government in the Methodist Epis
copal Church, the non-official laity are a nonentity.
They have only the right to pay and iv pray.
11 But an anti-scriptural and anti-Republican pol.
ity is not all. All through this and other countries
savage and civilized, is a Secret Fraternity laying
higii claims to antiquity, morality and religion. In
all its degrees every obligation is taken with an
oath. In its first seven degrees, with the Holy
Book, which says swear not at all, before him on
the altar at which he kneels, blindfolded and cable"
206 THE LILE OF
towed, each candidate takes over half a hundred
distinct oaths this going on each week in thou
sands of lodges no marvel that profanity abounds,
and that because of swearing, the land mourneth/
Monstrous obligations are taken, alike inconsistent
with the duties of the citizen and the precepts of
morality ; horrid and murderous penalties are in
voked ; such as having the throat cut across the
tongue torn out by the roots the left breast torn
open and the heart and vitals taken thence the
body severed in the midst and the bowels burned
to ashes tongue split from tip to root the skull
smote off, and-so-forth ; thus familiarizing the
mind with murder, and mutilation horrible to con
template. And what, if possible, is worse than all,
this motly mixture of fact and fiction, mummery
and murder, profanity and prayer, while ignoring
the mediation of the Blessed Lord and Savior in
its very prayers, yet holds out a false light ; prom
ising its votaries deliverance from sin and a home
in the &lt; house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens. And dreadful to contemplate, while
these terrible practices are prevalent throughout
the land, and thousands being decoyed into these
mystic meshes, not only are the pulpits and presses
of the Methodist Episcopal Church silent as the
grave on the subject, but still more awful, thou
sands of her ministers and members statedly wor
ship at these Christ-rejecting altars ! A thousand
times NO; the work of the Wesleyan Methodist
Connection of America is not JinisJied. It is not
HEV. ADAM CROOKS. 207
* dishonoring to God to be inflexibly loyal to Jesus
Christ; and the arbitraments of eternity will so
decide. Let others do as they will, to be holy,
we must warn men against false lights, antag
onize all sin, and be loyal to Jesus Christ, We
cannot do otherwise. God help us."
CHARACTER AND CHARACTERISTICS OF
REV. A. CROOKS.
BY REV. L. N. STRATTON.
The image of Minerva, towering above the Par
thenon in Athens, and the^ Sphynx, which looks
inquisitively over the unansweriug sand plains of
Egypt, were coarsely formed images. The distant
observer deemed them cleanly cut and smooth.
But it is said that close inspection revealed in them
many a flaw and seam. Children at play with a
pocket telescope are wont to place the large end
of the instrument to the eye, in looking at coarse,
uncomely objects. This, it is observed, gives them
a fineness of form and finish which nature itself
has failed to furnish. So is it with some men;
close observation is detrimental to appreciation.
But turn the small end of the telescope towards
them, and " Distance lends enchantment to the
view."
Not so with Adam Crooks. He would bear
close inspection. He appeared well at a distance,
but much better on a near approach. And if to
any he seemed distant, it was only in that seeming
208 THE LIFE OF
which the mind instinctively grants to manly dig*
nity and true worth.
His nature was confiding, and his judgment good ;
so that multitudes came to his side, both for coun
sel and consolation. He was a &lt;\lose observer of
men and things. He read character as a man
would read a book. And though he came to his
more weighty opinions slowly, when he did reach
them, they were usually correct. This Napoleonic
habit of studying characters, methods, facts of cur
rent history and events, made him a man of the
living present. It shaped his thought in instruc
tion ; it regulated his business policy ; it aided
his opinions, as to the turn which national and
ecclesiastical affairs would take, and which opinions
usually proved to be well founded. Although by
nature he was a student, and read the best part of
the best books, yet of him it might be said, as of
Abraham Lincoln : " He read not many, but much."
But of all his reading, aside from God s Word,
with the utmost care he "read the signs of the
times." This made him a wise counselor and a
careful adviser. He never leaped at conclusions.
If mists were too thick to penetrate, and the course
improbable, he always went slowly and with cau
tion. Had he been a General, he would have been
a hard one to defeat. He would not be drawn into
ambush, nor strike a strong blow at a shadow.
Careful and prudent to find the position of the ene
my, then never underestimating his strength, those
who knew him would look for a stroke of masterly
REN. ADAM CROOKS. 209
power which would sweep ever) thing before it.
These faculties made him a wise and successful
leader.
There was one more trait of character which
wove the web of his career with sunshine. That
was his hope. He was never disheartened at a
seeming failure. His face never grew long and
gloomy over a seemingly backward turn of the
wheel of fortune. If an honest effort failed of its
anticipated results, and covered other souls with
clouds, they were not his. Both his faith and better
judgment drove them away. His faith said : "This
is God s work and none of my business, only I am
to do my best to save the day." And his reason
said: "Who has ever undertaken any great and
good enterprise and seen it flourish from the first. 7
u The noblest plan is, when we fail,
To rise and try again."
This formed the basis upon which rested that
genial, hopeful trait of character which set every
true heart at ease in his presence. No such man
as he ever sat down in despair, or sold out at half
price, or sought to shift his pain of heart to his
stomach by a dose of stramonium or ratsbane.
Such a man, with such a faith and such a hope can
never be a coward, or commit suicide. Labor was
nothing, pain was nothing, long midnight rides over
rough roads and through drenching rains, were
trifles scarcely worth mentioning the next day. To
mortal fear he was a stranger; and a close analysis
210 THE LIFE OF
of his mental and well developed physical consti
tutions, makes it appear as less a wonder why,
Spartan-like, he had so little regard for physical
suffering, and seemed fearless of death. His un
wavering Christian hope, founded upon an abiding
faith in Him who said : " I will never leave thee
nor forsake thee," and "All things work together
for good to them that love God," were enough for
him. He knew these were God s words, and he
depended upon them. Current events and transac
tions in human society were only surface incidents,
liable to many phases and changes, while God s
word, on which his faith was founded, was more
than the solid rock which girdles the globe. Hea
ven and earth shall pass away, but not that word.
His figure was straight, and stood about five feet
eleven inches high ; his weight was from two hun
dred and five to two hundred and twelve pounds.
His eye was a bluish hazel, and his hair, by age
and toil, was turned to an iron-grey. His long,
full beard, his round, full face, his clear, intelligent
countenance and his erect and manly form, left the
impression upon the strangers of a crowd, or the
passengers of a railway train, that a man of more
than ordinary gifts and position was among them.
His habits were steady, his methods were uniform,
his course one day, or in one case of business or
advice, all things being equal, suggested what it
would be on the next day and occasion. So he
seldom turned up in unlocked for ways and places.
He was not moody. He did not do things "just as
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 211
it happened." People would not say of him, in a
case which he was to decide : " It will be just as
it happens to strike him." He decided from the
law and the testimony. In his position, it is won
derful how many questions of importance there
were to decide. And on his "Yes" or "No,
turned the fate of ministers and Churches. To
him this was a great care. His course was that of
a conciliator. His efforts "made for peace." One
of the last things he did, was to write several let
ters to save a pastor and a Church. He was very
anxious for both. And often he was called in to
aid in matters which others should have done for
themselves, without taxing his physical endurance
to its utmost limit. But people found him a frank
and genial friend, and sought his advice as natu
rally as they would that of an elder brother.
And he made them feel so welcome and at ease,
giving to all liberally and upbraiding not, that it
ceases to be strange that so many sought his
counsel.
He never sought to put himself ahead, or to push
himself upon public attention. He did not need
to. His natural modesty caused him to desire to
be unnoticed. But men who found him seeking
seclusion in the public congregation, called him
forth to take a place and part at the front.
His voice was clear and deep. Few men could
be so well heard and understood. He filled the
remotest point of the most spacious halls with his
clear and measured utterances. His thought usu-
212 THE LIFE OF
ally was very methodical. His speeches and ser
mons were cumulative. His texts were his sermons
in a nutshell, and his sermons were only about
their texts and their natural corollaries and ad
juncts. His texts were always revealed to him.
He did not reason them out from the apparent
needs, as some of us do, but he had depended from
the early times in his ministry upon receiving by
some sudden impression, his text. He studied his
sermons thoroughly, and usually noted their heads
on slips of paper, which he placed in a long pock-
et-book in his side pocket, ready for use.
With care he wrote his articles for the press.
As there has never been a skillful master of any of
the fine arts who leaped from the bottom to the top
round of the ladder at a single bound, but has
toiled through patient and steady effort to climb
round by round, so the most successful writers have
gained their eminence by care and toil. His friends
and readers know how closely and clearly every
thing he wrote was written. Lest all might not
easily follow the long steps he found it so easy to
make, I have seen him lay aside sheet after sheet
of well written manuscript, and write it again arid
again. Oh, could his readers have known the cost
to him of brawn and brain and life-forces, they
would have read what he wrote with even more
solicitude. Not that it was difficult for him to
write, but in what he wrote he was so pains-taking
that when it was done, it was finished, and like
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 218
Gray s "Elegy," few persons could suggest an im
provement in any particular.
Perfection was his aim in all respects. It was
seen in his neat dress ; in his deportment at the
fireside and the table; in his salutation of his
friends ; in short, in tongue and pen, in public and
private, in moral position and spiritual life, his aim
was perfection. And while he enjoyed the sweets
of a Christian life, it expressed itself, as in many
other cases, in his lively, pleasant countenance.
He was not a sad, gloomy, sorrowful, long-faced
Christian. He lived above the clouds, in the sun
shine, and like the parent eagle he sought to lead
and lure others there. At times his quiet humor,
and cheerful, playful words, sent glintings of sun
shine down through many a chasm of gloom and
cloud, to light up many a heart.
He was a firm bejiever in the superintendence of
a Divine Providence over the minutiae of life. His
personal history was full of incidents which proved
his faith, and exhibited his trust. He transferred
this same confidence from himself to the denomina
tion which he served so faithfully arid well. He
believed that God had an especial use yet for Wes-
leyan Methodists. And as an agent of the will of
Heaven, he sought with an unfaltering faith and
fortitude to perfect the workings of the denomina
tion. And as his labors drew to a close, he was
firmly of the opinion that the true power of the
Church, and the agencies at its command were ad
vancing. A few days before his death he said :
214 THE LIFE OF
"Brother Stratton, I feel greatly encouraged by our
denominational prospects. The Conferences which
I attended last Fall manifested such faith and zeal,
and gave such evidences of a love of hard work
as I never saw "before among them. Ministers are
better supported, both in finances and influence in
the communities where they are located. Then,
there are so many able, efficient young men coming
on, who within five years will be capable of filling
any position in the gift of the Connection, that I
feel more encouraged than at any other time for
the past ten years. While lying sick in Iowa, I
looked over the ground carefully, and I thought and
said to my attendants, that never in my entire life had
I seen a time, when, if it pleased God to take me, that
1 could be so well spared as now"
An incident transpired while on his way from
his sick bed in Iowa to Wasioja, the seat of the
Minnesota Conference. He had been sick at the
Michigan, Illinois and Iowa Conferences, with a
run of Typhoid Fever. At the seat of the latter
he remained, confined in his sick room, and a part
of the time delirious, while JBro. D. F. Shepardson
attended for him the Kansas Conference. This
over and he arose from his sick bed, and unattend
ed, cheerfully and hopefully started for Minnesota.
The cross-roads are usually unsteady and irregular.
At one point he found that the regular train had
gone, and he must wait twelve or fifteen hours for
the next run, and then ride through the cheerless
hours of a chilly night. There was a freight train,
RET. ADAM CROOKS. 215
with a wretched " caboose" in the rear, going out
in a lew minutes. He could scarcely think it pru
dent to expose himself to the constant draft of
such a car. He prayed God to help him. The con
ductor came around. He told this official who he
was, and the importance of his business, and that
he scarcely felt able to ride in that car, else he
cheerfully would. The Conductor reported the
matter to the General Superintendent, who was at
hand. A special car, with a neat state-room, was
immediately attached, and a beautiful bed made up
of high-piled hair cushions and ample coverings.
He was aided into it, and said he slept like an in
fant for one hundred and fifty miles. He believed
it to be a special providence of his ever-loving
Father in Heaven, who notes the fall of a sparrow
and hears the young raven s cry.
His health never appeared better than during the
Summer prior to the last visits he made to the Fall
Conferences. How clearly do I seem to see him,
with a clear and somewhat florid countenance, sit
ting at his accustomed desk ! How intelligent his
countenance, how kind his expressions, how prom
ising his prospects, how bright his hopes ! After
he had departed from his accustomed place, which
it seemed that he might yet fill for years, in our
issue of the AMERICAN WESLEYAN, August 19th,
1874, we published the following:
PERSONAL.
" KEY. A. CROOKS, whose checful face and friendly
words we miss, has left his busy financial desk for a tour
216 THE LIFE OF
of the Western Conferences, to be gone about three months.
Although he is to spend but a little time in each place, so
extended will be his tour, it will require many oppressive
days and cheerless night-rides to accomplish the journey.
Though mid summer is decorating our valleys now, the
sere and yellow leaf will rustle to the tread, and from
murky skies may form and fall the snow ere his return.
These columns need not commend him and the important
enterprises he represents to the favorable consideration of
the brethren to whom he as God s servant once more
comes. Soon agent and actors will take their last journey,
do their last duty, aad pass up to tl-e auditing rooms of the
Eternal Judge. For the golden bowl at last is broken,
and the pitcher carried often to the fountain at length re
turns no more. We believe the lesson these facts teach
will be heeded by us all."
It seemed almost prophetic. The feeling whicb
prompted the expression was perhaps the out
growth of that sad uncertainty which lies just be
hind the dim veil of futurity. Then, too, the
dangers and exposures intensified the thought, and
that this like other earthly things must end. Well,
soitpro\ed. He attended two dedications after
the Conferences, and then, amid the chill and gloom
of late October s dripping, he returned. A car
riage brought him from the depot, first to the office
and then to his home. Home had always been
secondary to the office, and so was it still. In the
next issue of the AMERICAN WESLEY AN we gave
him mention in the following personal :
PERSONAL.
" REV. A. CROOKS, whose labors, successes, sickness
and return have been duly noticed by our city papers and
a multitude of his friends, has beeu at home since Tue&-
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 217
tlay, October 27th. He claims to be much better, and no
doubt is ; but he is coming up very slowly. He has been
on the street a few times, and appeared, the ghost of his
former self, at the office perhaps thrice since his return.
He has lost thirty pounds from his two hundred and ten,
and his physical strength has turned to the weakness of a
child. His eyes seem large, his voice hollow, and his step
unsteady. But his mind is clear, his thoughts active, and
his soul growing brighter and more serene as he arises
from the clouds and smoke of the battle toward the bliss
of the everlasting gates. We do not believe that the Lord
is about to take him home now, but only intends to show
him both worlds from a point between ; a point where
the true value of the two appears more nearly correct than
is usually manifest. May prayers still go up in clouds to
Heaven s windows for him.
We have attempted to show why he thought
himself in no danger. I seemed to see him on the
verge of a chasm, invisible to himself, and over
which it appeared to me there was great danger of
his falling. But so Spartan-like and heroic, so
dead to pain and careless of toil was he, that he
had no fear of death. And when at length I wrote,
"ADAM CKOOKS is DEAD," this hand never penned
so sad a sentence, nor this heart felt so deep a
pang. Not only was it for our own sakes who
were here, and would feel his loss the most, but
everywhere among our people, from the Atlantic
to the Pacific, we knew a sad wail would go up to
the gates of Heaven. Blinding tears fell upon the
blackened columns of the AMERICAN WESLEYAN, in
mourning, and many laid it aside for a time, not
daring to risk their fluttering, almost murmuring
10
TEE LIFE 0^
hearts, to open it. From twenty to thirty thousand
people knew him well and loved him much. He
Was humanity s well-tried friend.
His faithful and devoted wife bears with patience
and Christian resignation her loss. She seems to
see him, not in the silent grave, but in a Christian s
Paradise. She cannot, does not wish him back.
And why should she? Hi& battle is fought, his-
crown is gained, and he has entered into rest,
From the clangor of arms and the rush of battle,
he entered an open sesame at the side of the way,
and stepped through into glory. Among the last
sane words he spoke to me, he said : " My soul
has been riding all night in a chariot ofjire." Yes-,
for but a little time the angel charioteer let him
step out again. Then, when the Master wanted
him, he did not let him suffer long dragging slowly
through the valley of the shadow of death but he
gent his swift coursers again. Our brother seemed
to see them coming, and exclaimed to his wife :
" Quick ! Be quick 1" He kissed her hastily, spoke
of the "rest beyond the skies/ and before there
was time to realize the danger, the angel whipped
back through "the dark valley," and entered, with
his prize, into the eternal morning.
We gladly let him rest. No winds can chill
him there. No fevers fret his flesh. No earth-born
hopes inspire new activities, and no earthly morn
ing will call him to the front again.
" Servant of God ! well done I
Rest from thy loved employ ;
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 219
The battle fought, the victory won,
Enter thy Master s joy.
" In condescending love,
Thy ceaseless prayer he heard,
And bade thee suddenly remove
To thy complete reward.
"The pains ot death are past,
Labor and sorrow cease ;
And life s long warfare closed at last,
Thy soul was foun 1 in peace.
" Redeemed from earth and pain,
Oh, may we all ascend !
And there in Jesus presence reign,
With our translated friend."
HOME LIFE.
For nearly twenty-two years the Lord permitted
me to walk beside one of his own faithful servants-
He was my all of earthly home, and my heart safe
ly trusted in him. He was firm as the " everlast
ing hilts" where right or wrong was concerned ; yet
kind always careful of the comfort tender of
the feelings and reciprocal in his affections. He
often said, " Home is the dearest spot on earth to
me ;" yet where duty called him away, he was quick
to obey, and while duty held him, he was content.
At times I seem to hear him saying now, as so of
ten in the past he has said, " We ll make our home
a little heaven, where we can be quiet and rest af
ter the battles of the day are all over; but we
must be sure and not make unto us anv idols. I
220 THE LIFE OF
believe God and His cause are first in my heart;
and you are next to those" .For years I tried con
scientiously to submit patiently to his long and oft
repeated absences, knowing that he went from his
home because duty led him, yet all the time feeling
that it was a hardship that I had to sacrifice so
much, for my home was very lonely without him.
He was so rejoiced when I could say, I will, and
do, let you go for Jesus sake I will stay alone,
when the cause of God requires you, and do it
cheerfully, as unto the Lord. His eye was surely
" single" to the glory of God. When any measure
was proposed, his first thought was, how will it af
fect the work, and no difference how hard the re
quirement, he always forgot self, and self inter
ests. He was always cheerful, and hopeful. If
any clouds arose he always said " let us get into
the sunshine." With all his cares, and while
pressed down with such a weight of anxieties, he
never gave place to fretfulness, for his mind was
stayed on One of whom it is said " Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee,
because he trusted in thee."
In looking back over all those years in which I
have been so securely sheltered by his love, and
through which we have tried hand in hand to
walk in the way the Lord has led us, I can say,
" surely goodness and mercy have followed us,"
and although our trials and conflicts at the time
&lt; seemed grievous," yet I now count it all joy that,
I was privileged to labor and suffer with him for
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 221
the Master here, and that through Christ I hope to
share the Christian s rest with him in heaven.
I will give extracts from some of his letters to
myself. Several of these were written before our
marriage, and the remainder after the lapse of
years.
MEDINA, OHIO, Nov. 10, 1852.
" DEAR ELIZABETH :
This is my eighth year in the traveling ministry, four
years of which were spent in the South. It is highly pre
sumable I shall live and die a " preacher of the Gospel."
My principal business will then be to save souls. The of
fice is an awfully responsible one, and its duties are ar
duous. Nor is it desirable to be the wife of a minister.
This position too, is a responsible and laborious one. Not
the position for a pleasure -seeker, or the lover of honor,
ease or fashion. For it, such have no taste; in it they can
take no pleasure. But I will say on the other hand, if the
heart is in the work, if the soul sympathizes with the Sa
vior, notwithstanding all its responsibilities, labors, and
pressing cares, it is a rich moral luxury to live and work
in this glorious God-like cause that of. saving mankind."
Another time he said to me, "I expect always to be a
Wesleyan Methodist minister. As long as I live, I intend
to be in the active work. I cannot give you gold, nor
promise you a permanent home. We shall be wayfarers
we must be ready to follow wherever duty leads us. But
if we love God, and each other we may be very happy."
MEDINA, OHIO, March 8, 1853.
11 DEAR ELIZABETH :
Yesterday, after riding thirty miles through mud and
mortar, over hill and dale, I had the exquisite satisfaction
of finding your excellent epistle awaiting my arrival.
And as I have many other things to write, I shall leave
you to conjecture how well I was pleased with its con-
222 THE LIFE OF
tents. Yes : and ere my heart had ceased to throb with
joy, and as I was thinking of an answer to-day, behold !
another swift winged angel of good, dropped another
sheet well filled with words of comfort words which warm
the heart, fire the soul, swell the bosom, light up the eye,
radiate the countenance with sentiments of delight. I am
satisfied, that as hunger prepares to enjoy food sickness
to appreciate health fatigae to enjoy repose so do the
frowns and threats of foes prepare the heart to gladden
and glow at the smiles and warm words of true friends. I
leave you to make the application.
I thank God on your behalf, that Our Father, how sweet
the name, vouchsafes his rich blessings to cheer your
heart, and inspire the still firmer resolve to be his and al
ways his. Sometimes I fear I have an idol, and that if
required to give thee up for Christ s sake, I would be slow
to make the sacrifice. I want to, aye, I do love you most
dearly, but I would not love you more than I as a Chris
tian ought. You beautifully express the feelings of my
heart " that we should first live for God and then for each
other." If we do this, we shall be happy. I hope I may
ever prove worthy the confidence you have reposed in, and
aifection lavished upon me. Could I be so base as to win
a heart as pure as thine, and take it fi-om it.s girlhood
home out upon the rough sea of life the tempest-tossed
ocean of time and then prove unfaithful, I surely would
most richly merit the righteous retributions of God ; I
should expect them. Well do I know, and glad I am it is
so, that I cannot make you unhappy without rendering
myself miserable. The reverse is no less true. To make
you happy is to bless myself. God knows it is my pur
pose to live so as to enjoy his approving smile."
MEDINA, OHIO, April 6, 1853.
&lt; DEAR ELIZABETH :
Your birthday favor camo to hand yesterday. Lan
guage is too weak to tell with how much interest and pleas
ure 1 perused its rich lines. I incline to the opinion how-
BEV. ADAM CROOKS.
ever that your feelings were very varied not unnaingled
with sadness. But how eould it be otherwise ? and, indeed,
there are times when I love to be a little sad. It seems to
mend the heart. You are about to bid adieu to scenes
around which the tendrils of your generous affections have
twisted and tied to leave friends tried and true, and aa
occupation in which your heart has been enlisted for years^
a calling of which good angels might be proud carv
ing ineffaceable hieroglyphics upon the imperishable gran
ite of the eternity expanding intellect ! Writing epitaphs
which will be read by the light of the judgment As aa
artist taking likenesses, which I trust will shine in the
beauty of unfading youth, and glory of undying day 1 Wh&
would envy a heart which unmoved could leave such a
work ! Not I. Your school days over ! Nay verily.
They have scarce begun. Life is a university of experi
ence. And here we are only in the primary department.
In the vestibule taking some preparatory lessons, previous
to entering upon the enrapturing investigation of the sci
ence of Universal Being. What boundless fields of glori
ous discovery are before us; what limitless regions of
knowledge are urging the eager mind onward onward
still, and ever onward! Cease to learn cease to do
cease to be happy never. That change will come dis
appointment and discouragement to be met, without
doubt; but they too are teachers, good teachers in this
great school of experience. 77
WEST CHAZF, May 1, 1873.
" DEAR WIFE :
" It is too bad, but this is the very best I can do. I had
no thought of any such thing until it was too late ; maH.
went out this morning at six o clock and I cannot send a
letter until to-morrow the same hour, so that you will not
get this until Saturday ; yet this is atoned for to some ex
tent from the fact that you will get it the anniversary of
our marriage.
Twenty years will have passed: 0, how time flies! But
224 THE LILE OF
thank God, our marriage is not the grave of love/ as?
some modern Reformers would style it The sun of love
shines much more brightly on us to-day than twenty years
ago. How much better thus to wear in than wear out/
So may it ever be. Young folks think they know some
thing of love, and so they do ; but there is large margin
for it to grow and ripen. Where shall we be twenty years-
from this? If living we shall be among the old folks. I
sixty-nine, and you sixty-one or two; but mayhap one or
both of us may be in Heaven. In all this, the will of the
Lord be done. Yet it is a fact, that the longer I live the
more Hove to live ; not that I hold on to the thing of liv
ing here with greater tenacity, but more and more I love
to labor for God and the good of others. For this, I
should be willing to live a thousand years; aside from
this, Hie to me would lose the lustre of its grandest signifi
cance. It amounts to this. The more we ripen up into-
the spirit of Jesus, the more we love to work for Him.
But I must stop writing, or I shall not get this into the
mail for to-morrow morning, and that I must do without
fail. Well, I shall think of thee often Saturday. We will
not be separated in thought, and in our consecrations, in
cur hearts: we can be re- wed though thus remote. t Hav
ing many things to write unto you, I would not write with
pen and ink ; but I trust to come unto you, and speak
* face to face, that our joy may be full. Peace be to thee*
Greet the friends by name/ Ever lovingly yours. n
"DEAR WIFET
We are having an excellent meeting. I wish you were
here. I trust the good Lord is preciously near with you at
home that ev^ry meal is a sacrament that you have mo
mentary communion with God. Hope you are well and
happy. I fancy I see you in your cosy home, while I am
a pilgrim." Rejoice evermore. 7 Pray without ceasing/
In all things give thanks. 7
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 225
1873.
WIFE:
This is a real bright morning. Hope it is with thee,
both external and internal. Well, there is not much in this
letter, but from it you may learn that I think of you right
early in the morning. Be sure and keep the City in view,
and keep step with the Captain. Love to all. Pray for
me. A few days and I will be at home, the Lord willing. I
will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on
me."
Aug. 29, 1873.
" DEAR WIFE :
Both of your good letters are received. I read with
tearful joy the victory you have gained, to endure hardness
cheerfully for Jesus sake. What a blessed victory. God
be praised. I am trying to live on the mountain top of
communion with God, and often feel that I am prayed for
at home. The Lord give us glorious victory. Surely He
will. All things work together for good to those who
love God. Christ in you the hope of glory What a
wonderful blessing to have Christ in us. His pure lov
ing spirit. Fare thee well till we meet again. Ever faith
fully and lovingly."
Sept. 11, 1873.
" DEAR WIFE ;
I have just come up out of Indiana struck the M. S.
R. R. here at Jones ville, fifteen miles from Cold water.
Have to wait for the train, so I write you. I shall expect
to get a letter from you at Coldwater ; then I will finish
up this. I had to travel on a cross track yesterday up out
of Indiana an inferior affair ; so about fceven o clock last
eve it stopped and put up for the night. This was a new
experience since I came from the South. There I was a
whole day traveling some sixty miles, and then put up for
the night; that was twenty-five years ago. Last night I
improved the time. I wrote till a late hour retired had
226 THE LIFE OF
a refreshing sleep woke up feeling quite wakeful ^
and svrote two or three hours, finishing up my account of*
the Conference. Thank God thus far, my health has been
very good. Oh, how different from last year ! Yours of
the 7th received. So glad you are contented to suffer for 1
Jesus. It makes you so much dearer to me. All well.
Fare thee well. Love and blessing to you and all. Faith
fully thine husband."
Oct. 4, 1873.
" DEAR WIFE :
Yours of the 29th ult ? is received. Oh, it don t seem so
far to Kansas when you once get there ! It requires only
four days for a letter to come. I like the Kansas brethren
very much. They seem like a noble baud of self-sacrific
ing moral heroes. Six have joined the Conference this
session. This Conference is alive and wide awake. I lit
tle thought of meeting persons I had met before ; yet here
are a brother and sister Foster who lived a few miles from
my native town and a brother Hosford, whom I knew
twenty-eight years ago. Three weeks will soon speed by.
You must not allow yourself to feel lonely. Especially
you must not repine. When you feel so inclined, go to
Jesus. He is the best of company. I write on this paper
because the other is all used up. I write by lamplight,
and the family is not up yet; will get this mailed to-day
if possible. Best love and blessing to you and all. God is
love. Love one another. 7 Love fulfills the law. 7 For
ever yours in love. 77
KANSAS, Oct. 7, 1873.
"DEAR WIFE:
Here I am among my relations at a cousin s Was at
Bro. Henry s to-day assisted him in raising his house.
We all go to Robert s in Kansas City this eve. Henry and
wife, Robert and wife, cousin Thomas and wife will all be
there, but near fifteen hundred miles intervene between
us. If you were only here ! I have thought much of thee
fcEV. ADAM CROOKS. 227
%o -dayespecially because I have been visiting. If I only
had wings, or could take cars drawn by lightning, would I
not see you this very night ? But time is on the wiag; only
a few days more and then I can go to stay sometime worth
while. Hope you are well and ever so happy. Let me
see ! You will get this about Saturday. Then only two
weeks more. Bless rne ! Busy thought can briisg us side
by side, and we can have many a visit between this and
then. My health continues as usual. God be praised. I
shall hope to hear from you at Wasioja . I have a long
ride night and day before me. The weather is beautiful
here. Fare thee welL "Keep your heart in the love of
God."
Oct. 17, 1873.
" DEAR WIFE:
Your good letter of the 9th not received until yester
day I began to feel hungry to hear from you. Your letters
have so much better ring to them, than of yore. You have
gotten into a better land than that in which you used to
live ; I know not how sufficiently to praise Grod. With you,
I hope you may be kept there forever. How did you corrre
to say you hoped there would be but one Sabbath more
for you to be alone, if it is the Lord s will? How did you
come to put that in ? Well, it so happens that I have to
turn about at Pittsford, Michigan, and go away back to
Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and dedicate a church. They had
posters printed and all the arrangements made and I knew
nothing of it until I come here. Letters had been written,
but I did not get them. It is a great thing to pray from
the heart the Lord s prayer Thy will bt&gt; done. And it
is a blessed thing to realize My grace is sufficient. 7 This
is a possible experience and one we all need. Still beau
tiful weather. A good session of Conference thus far. I
have to dedicate the church in which Conference is held,
on Sabbath then three more that week, making four
churches in eight days Then in a month or so come back
to Iowa to dedicate another. This looks some like pros-
228 * THE LIFE OF
perity ; God be praised Glad God is reviving his work in?
Syracuse. May the time of captivity there be ended speed
ily. I am sure God is hearing prayer. Great peace have
they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them/
1 In the world ye shall have tribulation, but in me ye have
peace. 7 Peace be unto you. My peace I give unto you.
Not as the world giveth, give I unto you Peace like a
river, and righteousness like the waves of the sea/ How
blessed to daily and hourly commune with our Saviour
consciously. But remember still there are heights beyond.
Let us, Forgetting the things behind and reaching ta
those before, press toward the mark for the prize of our
high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 7
LETTER WRITING.
His letter writing while at home was no small
tax upon his time and sympathies. Many of his
hours were spent in writing the absent. Encour
aging those who needed encouragement. Sympa
thizing with those in sorrow, reproving in love,
those who needed reproof, and in even so small a
denomination as ours, there is often need of a
peace-maker. Jesus will surely say to him,
" Blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be
called the children of God," Many times he has
come from the office weary in body and mind, yet
no rest until some plan of action was arranged to
help those in difficulty. Many times in the small
hours of the night have I listened to the advice he
thought he should give the parties concerned. It
seemed a relief to tell some one of his cares. Per
haps the difficulty was concerning trifling matters,
yet, there was danger that the cause of God would
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 229
suffer, if oil were not poured upon the troubled
waters. He seemed to have the faculty of gaining
the confidence of all ; for every one felt a freedom
in confiding their interests into his keeping. They
expected sympathy in joy or sorrow. Standing as
he did at the centre of our denominational inter
ests visiting as he did for so many years our an
nual Conferences, he became well acquainted with
our work all through the Connection. Almost knew
individual churches. He was personally acquaint
ed with nearly all the ministers -knew their suc
cesses and their failures knew all they had to
contend against their self-denial for the Master
their zeal, their devotion and consecration. He
often wrote, " We do have a band of noble breth
ren." His letters from the Conferences almost in
variably testified to the presence of the Lord in
their annual gatherings, and the faithful work done
by the brethren. In looking over his letters I find
often such expressions as these " We have had a
glorious session of Conference ; for the Lord has
been with us in mighty power." Souls were con
verted, and believers were strengthened." " The
brethren go to their work with a renewed conse
cration. I expect great results, because of the
baptism of power received." Also, " This has been a
good year for this Conference. Thanks be unto God
who giveth us such victories. Its all of the Lord
or Brother is on the mountain top. This has
been his best year over one hundred conversions.
Prospects good, but our hope is in God. May He
230 THE LIFE OF
use us to His glory. I preached last night a
good time. Tlie good Lord blesses me in His
work. How much I need His grace, I am sure
many are praying for me. Let us be more and
more given to God. I think I know something of
what Paul wrote of the care of all the Churches.
Seek daily communion with God. Be as busy as
may be about His work and time will speed quick
ly. God bless you."
THE LAST YEAR.
The last year of Mr. Crook s life was if possible
crowded with more than usual labor. He returned
from his visit to the Coferences in the Fall of 1873
feeling well in body and mind. The people had
responded to his calls for subscriptions to the new
Publishing House with great liberality. The work
throughout the Connection was in a growing, pros
perous condition. The Lord was with them at
each session of Conference, to bless and strengthen.
The brethren went to their respective fields of la
bor with fresh courage and renewed consecration.
New fields were opening, and new laborers were
coming up to the work. He thanked God and took
courage. He almost immediately, in connection
with his office work, took charge of a Mission
Church about one mile and a half from his home,
preaching twice on each Sabbath. A few weeks
after his return, Bro. Stratton-was taken sick, and
for weeks was so feeble that we were all greatly
alarmed about his recovery. Mr. Crooks took
&EV. ADAM CROOKS. 231
charge of the editorial work, and while all this
was upon his hands, the clerk was also taken sick,
which made additional labor. Before either was
able to do full duty, he commenced a series of
meetings at the Mission Chapel. Working hard
at the office all day, he would walk to the meeting,
preach, exhort, conduct altar services, and late in
evening would walk home, take a few hours rest,
and then commence the labors of another day.
This continued until time for the Spring Confer
ences. He attended the last of those in May, and
in June, Bro. Stratton and family went West on a
visit, and were absent four weeks. Mr. Crooks
took entire charge of papers and office again. He
attended the dedication of a church in Vermont,
in July, and in August went to Michigan for the
same purpose.
Immediately upon his return from the last dedi
cation, he commenced his preparations for his usual
Fall journeyings. His hands were full of buiness
until the last moment. At dinner, on the last day,
he said: "I am going to try to get through with
my work in time to have a half hour to rest and
visit with you before I leave for the train." But
there are always so many arrangements to make,
so much to attend to, before leaving for such a
length of time, that lie could spare but a few mo
ments for supper and the last u God bless you I"
We expected to meet again in Michigan after a few
weeks. He left home on the evening train, for
East Orange, Delaware Co., Ohio, where the ses-
232 THE LIFE Off
sion of the Central Ohio Conference Was to be helcL
Three years of our life had been spent happily in
the cozy little parsonage at that place, He arrived
in safety and good health, and wrote rne a long
letter, telling of old friends and his pleasant
visit with them. He left there for the Miami Con
ference, and the week following he was in Rich
mond, Ind., attending the Indiana Conference. I
will give an extract from one of his letters written
while there : -
Sept. 3, 1874.
"DEAR WIFE:
My health is still good, for me, at this season of the
year. Some catarrh, but I think I am over the worst.
The attendance is large some say the largest ever known
in this Conference. Six came to unite with the Conference.
How thankful to G-od we should be for the success he is
giving us. I am very thankful. Soon as possible I will
let, you know whether you may look for me Monday or*
Tuesday. Good-bye till evening. Mail is in now, and no
letter from you. Hope now for to-morrow morning, but I
send you this. I am much better to-day. The Lord be
praised. Take good care of yourself; I know you will of
mother. Don t too strongly look for me next week. Case
is looking doubtful. Best love and blessings. Thine own
loving husband.
He found that by r?ding all night he could come
to my mother s on his way to the Michigan Confer
ence, and spend a day with us. He was very
weary, but enjoyed his visit very much. He had a
long talk with mother. She did not think she
should see him again, for she expected to be called
soon to her " Heavenly home,"
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 233
While making preparations for his departure, I
could not entirely control my feelings. Seeing this,
he came to me and said : " It s hard, but we ll do
this for Jesus sake." We went to the depot; bade
each other farewell. That was the last time I saw
my husband when he looked like himself.
IONIA, MICH., Sept. 14, 1874.
" DEAR WIFE :
I Lad expected to communicate with you again last
week, but was away five miles from the post office; hence,
I write this morning, immediately. We have had an ex
cellent Conference session. Good attendance, a blessed
spirit of harmony and zeal. Six were ordained. My
health is now about perfect. I have recovered from my
annual attack of catarrh, and this morning, after the labors
of yesterday, am feeling splendidly. 0, how I thank God
for good health ! I hope you are well by this time. You
must take good care of yourself for my sake. To look
forward, it seems a long time until November; yet we
know how fast time flies. You will be content taking care
of mother. Bro. Curtis sends love to you all ; he is quite
fee ble. Time is manifestly making its mark upon him.
So it does and is upon us all. Now, be good, and do good.
Let me hear from you often. Love and blessing to you
and all. Thine own in love. 77
While going from the Michigan to the Illinois
Conference, he had a severe chill, It lasted hours.
In speaking of it after he came home, he said, " I
thought I never could get warm again. The very
marrow in my bones seemed frozen." He sent me
a card from Sycamore, saying he was sick, and he
would write me again soon.
234 THE LIFE OP
SYCAMORE, ILL., Sept. 23.
"DEAR WIFE :
No doubt you have been anxious to hear from me.
Thursday eve I sent a card to you, reporting my sickness
then started to ride five miles to the Conference ; or rather
to my stopping place, which was two miles from the place
of Conference. This was too bad for a sick man, to ride
four miles each-day. I would go in the morning and stay
till evening, remaining in- doors at night. I eat almost
nothing. This wretched Hay-fever. I preached Sabbath,
and came to this place Monday, too late to get a letter to
you. I write this before breakfast. I am feeling better,
but not well. Pray for me ; I do for you. Write me
often. Love to you, mother, and all. Ever thine own/
SYCAMORE, ILL., Sept. 24.
"DEAR WIFE:
[I write you by the handj of another, not being able to
write now. I have been stopping here at Bro. Clark s,
pastor of the Church at Sycamore, trying to rest up and
doctor up. The Doctor says I am better, and thinks I
will not have a run of fever. I am very weak. I start for
Iowa to-day. Bro. Clark is going with me to take care of
me and do the work. I shall do my very best to take ?are
of myself, and will write you again when I get to Iowa.
I know you will not cease to pray for me ; I will not for
thee. Hope in God. Don t be discouraged. All will
come out right. Very best love and blessing to you and all.
This is written by the hand of our excellent Sister Shep-
ardson, for your loving husband."
IOWA CONFERENCE, Ser&gt;t. 28, 1874.
"DEAR WIFE:
I wrote you by the hand of Sister Shepardson, in Illi
nois, and by the hand of Bro. Clark, in Iowa, on oar way
to the seat of Conference, and would now write you by the
hand of Bro. Shepardson, who is to accompany me to
Kansas. It required nearly a superhuman effort to reach
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 235
tills place. Having started Thursday noon, from Syca
more, 111., we arrived at midnight at State Line, Iowa.
There stretched out before us some fifteen miles of rough
road, and it was raining furiously. This was rather a gloomy
prospect for a sick man, but our good Heavenly Father
brought us safely through it all. To his Holy name be
rendered grateful praise. I left almost the entire business
to Brothers Shepardson and Clark, simply settling with our
Missionaries, and making my official report to the Confer
ence. I only attended services Sabbath morning. The
good brethren and sisters having kindly furnished me a
couch on which to lie, and now having done all this, Mon
day morning, I find myself vastly better than when we left
Sycamore. It is truly wonderful how our good Heavenly
Father can sustain amid suffering, toil and sickness. He
shall have all the glory. And now, dear wife, be patient,
trustful, and ever praise the Lord. This letter is quite ex-
ten^. I had better rest. Give love to mother and all
the family, and accept without measure, from your pilgrim,
yet faithful and loving husband.
"P. S. Your two good letters addressed me here, were
received Saturday evening.
11 P. S. Sept. 29th. Programme changed. I have con
cluded to stop here a week and rest, and let Bro. Shepard-
do the business in Kansas. This will give me opportunity
to rest and rally for the remainder of the tour. Young
Bro. McGrilvra consents to stay and care for me. Ever
loving, &c."
Oct. 5, 1874.
" DEAR WIFE : *
I promised to write the next letter with my own hands,
but I find it much easier to employ the hand of another.
I came here last Monday, and have been stopping here un
til this Monday morning, to rest up and get well. Have
had excellent care taken of me, God appointing a Sister
Riley and Bro . McGilvra to this work. Now the fever
seems to be gone, but it leaves me quite weak. It will re-
236 THE LIFE OF
quire some days to recruit, before I can renew my journey.
I mean first, by the blessing of God, to take care of self,
and theu do my utmost for His cause. It may be I will
remain here until Wednesday, before trying to start out on
my tour. Only two more Conferences to attend, and two
more churches to dedicate. I expect to return to Syracuse
by the way of Leesvilie ; but I do not expect to remain
there very long. I wish the Estate affairs were all settled
up. God will bring it about after a while. Take good
care of yourself. Let me hear from you as often as possi
ble. Give love to mother and all. Please accept a bound
less share for yourself. Be sure and live very near to the
dear Lord, and do all the good you can. From your ever
loving husband. 7
I received a number of postals written for him?
all full of hope for a speedy recovery, and thank
fulness for blessings given. After ten days reskhe
started alone for the Minnesota Conference, He
was not fit to make the journey, especially alone,
but he said, " God took care of me." The next is
written in a trembling hand, by himself.
WASIOJA, MINN., Oct. J3, 1874.
" DEAR WIFE:
Your two letters were brought from Kansas, also the
one to this place received. I am improving slowly. Ap
petite does not seem to come. I think the attack was bil
ious. I start^to Wisconsin to-day. A long visit with
Professor Hand. He looks about as of yore. He is absent
from his family nearly all the time. He sends kindest re
gards to Libbie. Well, not long now, if God please, till
we meet at home. Won t it seem good. Dear wife, let us
live near God. Love and blessing to all. Your ever lov
ing husband."
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 237
WISCONSIN CONFERENCE, Oct. 17, 1874.
"DEAR WIFE:
Your good letter was received all right. I am still on
the up grade. Have not preached since in Illinois, May
next Sabbath, if the Lord helps. Yes, in about three
weeks, God permitting, I hope to get home about the
first of November."
The next is an almost entire copy of his last let
ter to me, written in weakness and weariness, with
a trembling hand.
TREMPELEAU, Wis., Oct. 21, 1874,
" VERY DEAR WIFE : Your postal was received last
evening. Hope you are well as usual. lam here to dedi
cate a church at 2 o clock to-day. Hope God may help
me. I am still improving slowly, but it almost seems by
the half inch, yet coming up. Glad to know you are try
ing to live near God. 0, how important this ! You wish
to know on what day of next week I expect to get home
If God will, on Tuesday, if I do not go to Leesville ; if I
do go there, then Thursday. If you get home first, give
love to all the friends. Blessings. Thine own loving hus
band.
(" Soon face to faee." A. CROOKS.
After leaving Trempeleau, he had to attend a
dedication at Xenia, Ohio. On the way, while in
the cars, he made the acquaintance of two Friends ;
and as they were conversing about the reforms of
the day, and the life work of the Christian, he no
ticed a gentleman seated near by, who seemed very
much interested in the conversation. As they
ueared Xcnia, he approached Mr. Crooks, asking
" To Wiiitt part of the city do you intend going ? I
live here, and can aid you." Pie told him where.
238 THE LIFE OP
Then the stranger said, " It is but a short distance,
I am going the same way, and will carry your
satchel for you. I have been listening to your talk,
and I like the ring of it." They stepped to the
door and found it raining. Then the gentleman
said, " Let me call a carriage for you." He did
so, and after helping him in, bade him a good day.
Mr. Crooks rested very well that night, and the
next day attended the dedication. After preach
ing, there were twelve hundred dollars to raise, in %
order to clear the church from indebtedness. They
succeeded in raising the greater portion of it, and
thinking they would not be able to finish it entire
ly, dismissed the congregation. He went to his
resting place, lay down a few hours, thought of
another plan, arose, went to the evening service^
and completed the work. He was too feeble to go
to Leesville, as he had purposed doing, so he came
directly home.
He was so thankful to get home once more. He
was very grateful for the kindness and care be
stowed upon him by others. Several times he said ?
" I could not have had better care if you had been
at my side; but it is so pleasant to be in my own
little home again." He had every attention possi.
ble while traveling. At one time, the Superintend,
eiit of the road was at the depot when the train
was being made up, and seeing Mr. Crooks condi
tion, he ordered a more comfortable car to be
added to the train. Another time, the Conductor
of a train had a lounge put into the baggage car;
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 239
so that he could lie down while traveling. The
hands employed on the trains seemed to vie with
each other in kindness to him. The accommoda
tions in the far West, upon those cross roads, espe
cially, are not very good. He has journeyed many,
many miles, upon freight trains, and even upon open
gravel cars, seated upon his trunk, with his um
brella to shield him from the sun and rain. Several
times he has written me of riding with the engineer
and in one letter, written several years ago, he
says : " I am getting used to the rough and tumble
of travel. You would think so, if you had seen
me riding all night, last night, in a freight carrying
on a board for a bed, and my satchel for my pillow."
He came home the 27th of October. He was
very feeble, and had changed so in his appearance,
that he scarcely looked like himself. We all felt
that he must have been very much worse than we
realized at the time. That evening, while talking
of his sickness, I told him of the desolation that
would come over me at times, while at mother s a
fear that I should never see him again, and I said,
"Oh, Mr. Crooks what should I have done if you
had not come home ?" Laying his hands upon my
head, he said, "God would have helped you borne
it." He also said ;&lt; he believed that he was per
mitted to come home in answer to prayer." I feel
assured, by some remarks he made as we further
conversed, that night, that there had been times
when he had felt his recovery doubtful. He
traced the hand of a kind and loving Father all
240 THE LIFE OP
through his sickness, especially in raising up such
friends, who were so tireless in their attentions to
his comfort. He said farther, that " God had so
prospered us as a denomination, that there would
not be so much anxiety for the future as there had
been in the past. He should not have so much
care, and he was not going to let all his attention
be given to outside work, for he intended to spare
a little to his home. For years the Connection
had claimed his whole time and absorbed his every
thought; now, God was raising up others, who
were working so zealously and faithfully that there
was not that necessity for him to labor as he had
been doing. He was going to rest and recruit."
Nearly every day he spent an hour or more at the
office, having his accounts of business done at the
Conferences properly recorded on the office books,
and in answering letters which were awaiting his
return. Some of these were for advice and coun
sel, and he wrote as the case seemed to need;
sometimes planning the work for others, sometimes
encouraging, and again giving counsel. When at
home, he lay on the couch nearly all the time. He
did not suffer much, but seemed so weary.
The first Sabbath morning after his return, he
wanted to go to Church, but as it was stormy, he
concluded to stay at home and rest. I left him
with that understanding. Shortly after I had gone,
he changed his mind, arose, protected himself as
best he could, and came to the house of God. He
sat by the stove during service, but before the bene
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 241
diction was pronounced, he asked permission to say
a few words. He said he wished to thank the
friends for their kind sympathy and prayers. He
said it was in answer to prayer that he stood be
fore them to-day. He spoke of the good dealings
of God with him, and his perfect submission to the
will divine. He encouraged them to continue to
pray ; for God did hear and answer prayer.
There were several times in which, for a few
days, he seemed to gain strength ; then he would
have chills or a return of fever, and he would lose
all he had gained. At one time he gained several
pounds in weight; but it could not have been good
flesh. There was not a perfect circulation of blood
through his system ; for one foot and limb were
cold nearly all the time. His appetite was very
fickle; sometimes craving very little, and then al
most ravenous in its demands.
The Mission Church had been without a supply
for the pulpit for several Sabbaths, and he was so
anxious for that little flock for which he had labored
so earnestly, that he walked to the place of worship,
and preached from these words: "Keep your
selves in the love of God, looking for the mercy
of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Jude,
i: 21. He preached about forty minutes. His
voice, at first, was weak and tremulous; but he
became so engaged in urging his hearers to faith
fulness, that it became as strong and powerful as it
ever was. He rested a while, and walked home,
11
THE LIFE OF
and that night he had another chill, from which, in
a few days, he seemed to rally. He afterwards
rode to the place of meeting, and preached his
farewell sermon to them, as they had succeeded in
securing the services of another pastor. This
proved to be the last time he gave the " bread of
life " to others. His text was : " And when he
was gone, a lion met him by the way and slew
him." 1 Kings, xiii : 24, The leading thought he
tried to impress upon their minds was a care fulness
in obeying the commands of God. He did not
remain to Class-meeting, but took each one of them
by the hand, asking God to bless them, he bade
them farewell. They never saw him again, until
they looked upon his shrouded form.
When expostulated with for working when so
feeble, he said, " I am doing my duty j God will
take care of my body." His mind rested calmly,
trusting in God. He said several times, that he
never felt he could be spared from the work as
well as now ; there were so many brave, zealous,
earnest workers coming into our ranks. The young
and old were so baptized with the spirit of labor
and sacrifice for Jesus, that the work would still go
on ; &lt; but, he always added, " it is just as the Lord
wills ; I am in his hands, to do his will."
About this time, letters came, asking advice con
cerning a Church difficulty on a certain part of the
work. It seemed to press heavily upon him. He
exclaimed, " Why cannot brethren bear with each
other 1" He was advised to send postal cards to
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 243
the parties, stating his feebleness, and that he would
write them more fully, as soon as he was better.
This he did ; but a few days later he wrote several
long letters, trying to calm the strife among brethren.
The year was drawing to a close. He felt there
ought to be some earnest words said to our sub
scribers, urging renewals and the enlarging of our
list. He arose one Monday morning, and as soon
as breakfast and morning devotions were over, he
drew a stand near the stove, and began to write.
Nearly the whole forenoon was spent in preparing
the Prospectus for 1875. Then, there were callers
who occupied his time for an hour or more. When
at last alone, he laid his weary body upon the
couch ; and as I sat beside him, taking my hand in
his, he said : " I know you are feeling anxious be
cause I have worked so hard this forenoon. I had
to do it. The subject was in my mind and on my
heart. I could not lay it aside. It was time for
the Prospectus to appear in the paper, and there
was no one who had the facts as I had. I bad to
do it. This morning, as I knelt beside my bed, I
said, 0, Lord, living or dying, I will do my duty.
It was my duty, and God will take care of the re-
suits. It has always been my experience, that God
has given me strength to do the work he has for
me to do. While attending the Conferences and
Dedications, as feeble as I was, many times I felt
that I could not hold up my head; yet, when the
time came for me to speak, to preach or to present
the interests of our cause, God was by me, to sup-
244 THE LIFE OF
port and strengthen. Now, do not feel worried,
for I am in the Lord s hands, to do his will."
He was exceedingly interested in the women s
temperance work in our city, and was anxious that
I should attend every meeting. One day, he had
lain upon the couch nearly all the forenoon ; not in
much pain, yet suffering from prostration. It
seemed to require an effort to lift even his hand ;
yet he urged me to go to the meeting that after,
noon. He said, " you cannot do anything for me ; I
will lie here and rest while you are gone." He
seemed to feel sorry when I told him I could not
leave him. I did go to a number of meetings,
partly to please him, when my heart was divided
between the interests of the cause and my poor
feeble husband at home. We had many calm, quiet
talks, during those last weeks, upon personal expe
rience. He was so restful, and trustful, and hope
ful, expecting to get well, because he had such
confidence in the strength of his constitution to
throw off disease, and there was" so much work to
be done for the Master, and he had such a love for
that work, that his mind was almost entirely occu
pied in arranging work for himself and others.
Self was so thoroughly crucified; he had no anxi
ety for the present or future. All was well with
him, and he lay passive in the hands of the Lord,
awaiting his guiding, ready to go or stay, just as
the Lord willed.
He said, at one time, " I hope to have more time
to write now, than I have had for the past few
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 245
years. There are several subjects upon which I
think I shall write more fully. I think good can
be done. I want our people established, settled,
and grounded on these subjects." One was our
perpetuity as a denomination. If we will, with
" patient continuance," labor on, success is before
us. Another one he mentioned, was " the great
importance of heart and life consecration to God."
This was a subject of vital importance to him.
Personally, he drew very near to God ; seemed to
talk with him, as with a dear friend. His earnest
prayers for the cause he loved, and was willing to
labor for, shall never be forgotten.
Those last weeks were blessed, precious weeks*
He seemed in spirit so like himself. His cares
were laid upon One strong to help. He was so
thankful to get home, he fully entered into the en
joyment of our quiet, peaceful home. He was ten
der, loving, cheerful, hopeful and trustful. It was
quiet rest for body and soul.
He went to the office nearly every day, until the
last week. Tuesday, one week before his death,
he went twice. About eleven o clock he came
home, very weary, and laid on the couch. He did
not wish any dinner, but wanted to rest. He
seemed comfortable as he lay there, and having to
go out to meet an engagement, at two o clock, I
left him for an hour or two. When I returned, he
was feeling badly, but was trying to transact some
business appertaining to the printing office, with a
stranger who had called to see him. When we
246 THE LIFE OF
were alone, he complained of a pain in his stomach;
somewhat similar to his old complaint, (Bilious
Cholic). But as it was not very severe, he said he
would drink some peppermint tea 7 and be covered
up warm, and get into a perspiration. He thought
that would relieve him. He suffered all night, but
he did not feel anxious. In the morning, we thought
we ought to be more thorough, and commenced giv
ing him medicine which was prepared for him, and
had always given relief. About noon he was bet
ter of the pain, but had a high fever, which in
creased as night approached.
Bro. Stratton called during the afternoon, to make
arrangements for the missionary meeting, which
was to be held the next day. I asked him if he
thought he should be able to attend the meeting.
He answered, " If I cannot go to the meeting the
brethren can come here." He felt that the meet
ing must be held then, for our missionaries were
needy. During the night his fever was very high.
His mind -was wandering. He was traveling
working -had so much to attend to. In the morn
ing early he was better. I wanted him to have a
doctor, but he said, " Wait, I think I shall be better
now," After a time I left him sleeping, and went
into another part of the house to attend to other
duties. In a little while hearing him up, I went to
his room and found him trying to dress himself
and could not. I asked, " Had you better get up
now ? he said " yes," and indistinctly referred
to the missionary meeting. I gave him the aid he
KEY. ADAM CROOKS, 247
aeeded, and leaving him a moment I heard his
voice and went to him immediately. He tried to
tell me something, but could not articulate clearly.
Then he laid back upon the bed and motioned me
to cover him up. I sent immediately for the doc
tor. He was conscious when he came, yet did nat
talk coherently. He lay all day in a stupor ; when
roused he seemed to know what was said to him.
Several times during the day he would get up and
out of bed as though he must go somewhere. I
would quietly arrange his pillows or bed, and say,
now your bed is nice, he would lie down without
any resistance and be covered again. This con
tinued until about midnight. His fever left him
then, and he slept sweetly until four o clock, whea
he called me by name. He was perfectly rational,
and could converse easily. He remembered some
things that transpired during the previous day, but
for the most part it was a lost day to him. He now
seemed more natural than he had for several days
past. He was his own bright self again. After he
had eaten a little breakfast he said, " I was so sick
yesterday morning that I was not conscious of the
time for morning devotion ; we must not forget our
family altar ; you will bring the Bible here beside
my bed and read it to me and we will pray to
gether." This was done until the last morning,
when he was again unconscious. When the doctor
-came, he found him so much better that he encour
aged us to hope that he would soon be welL
About eleven o clock that day he had a slight chill,
248 THE LIFE OF
but he did not appear any the worse for it, a;s ft
lasted but a few moments. Saturday morning we
moved his bed into the sitting room. He seemed
strong walked quite easily. In the afternoon he
sat up in the arm chair and said, " he felt better." 1
He did not suffer except a soreness across his
stomach. He had some fever nearly all the time.
He slept quietly that night, awoke refreshed and
still seemed better. The doctor came about ten
o clock and was pleased with the improvement in
his condition. He said he saw nothing in the way
of his recovery if we used care. The doctor sat
and conversed some time with us and among oth
er things he said, " I have been hearing something
of your hard labors." Mr. Crooks said, "his la
bors in the past had been very severe, but he now
felt there was no further need for him to carry
such a weight of responsibility. In the future he
was intending to take better care of his health.
There had no one been wronged but his wife. She
had been called upon to sacrifice very much for the
cause for which he was laboring; had in fact given
up her husband for ten years, but he meant to da
better by his own home in the future." He con
tinued, " I cannot of course tell how it will be, but
I feel as though there were twenty years of service
for Christ before me yet." The doctor said he
would not be surprised if there were. He sat up
twice during the day had very little or no appe
tite, but was free from pain. We spent a calm,
bright, joyous Sabbath day, One or two of the
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 249
friends saw him for a moment. The doctor s order
was that he should be kept perfectly quiet, for his
fever still clung to him. He sat up in his arm
chair twice during the day, but that night he was
very restless. He was not in pain, but his mind
was so full of work. He was planning important
work. Pie said in the morning he had prepared
several tracts and he thought when he got well he
should write them out and publish them. He
thought they would do good.
When Bro. Stratton called, he told him of one
or two little matters which had escaped his mind
when he saw him. After he had finished, he said :
" There, they are off my mind now." He told him
of his restless night, the work he had been doing
during the night. I give Bro. Stratton s account
of his visit :
" On Monday morning, he said, in answer to in
quiries : No, I was not nervous, but I could not
sleep. My mind was in a chariot of flame. I was
blocking out tracts, and one article especially.
One tract on Wlnj be Wesleyan Methodists? He
mentioned other enterprises by name, and the joy
of his soul. He expressed the desire to see the
great work of holiness of heart and life more and
more developed among our people ; and it seemed
to us that his countenance glowed like the face of
Moses, just down from the Mount of God. He
then spoke with great tenderness of the unwearied
attentions of his wife, introducing it by saying:
11*
250 *HE LIFE OF
Brother Stratton, I have the best wife in the
world. "
He fully appreciated every little attention. Dur
ing the morning, he called me to his bedside, say
ing, " I think we will write a &lt; certain letter to-day.
I told him he was not well enough. He answered,
" I have all that I am going to say arranged in my
mind, and if you will write it, then it will be off
my mind." I promised to do it for him in the
afternoon; it was not remembered again. He
slept some during the day. He was perfectly ra
tional, and sat up a short time. We had several
conversations about what he intended to do, as soon
as he was able, One thing, he had promised, as
soon as he was well enough, to visit a Church where
there was some misunderstanding among some of
the members. He spoke of his promise as he lay
there on his bed. There was such an earnestness
in his eye, as he said: I shall talk plainly with
them. I read, years ago, an allegory, which is to
the point in this case. When the Devil wishes to
get the control of men, he holds up to them his
end of the great magnifying glass, through which
men look at the things of this life, and they see
everything just as he wants them to see it; so he
controls them ; when, if they would only turn the
glass around, look through the other lens, they
would see just as the Lord wanted them to see.
They would learn his will in the matter. I shall
tell them they must be very sure which lens they
are looking through." The doctor called in the
REV. ADAH CROOKS. 251
afternoon, with another physician. As he was not
well, and feared he was going to be sick, he brought
this one with him for counsel, and to attend to his
case if he were not able to come in the morning
himself. They both encouraged us to hope for re*
covery. An old friend saw him a moment. He
was glad to see her, and sent love to all the friends,
and expressed a hope that he should see them soon,
A short time after this, he was taken with a chill,
which lasted about twenty minutes, and during this
time he was perfectly wild, I never saw him so
much so before. After using restoratives, the chill
left him, and he was perfectly rational again. He
said the chill had not hurt him ; his fever was not
increased any, and he thought he was weak, and
perhaps he had not kept covered as well as he
should. He relished a light supper, and after hav
ing his head and feet bathed, he fell asleep, and had
refreshing slumber all night ; yet, every time I went
to his bedside, he would awake. About midnight,
he awoke and said : " We have been having such
a glorious work. We have organized a splendid
Sabbath school." Then looking at me closely, he
said, " Why, I am at home ! Really, I do not real
ize half the time whether I am at home or not, I
am so very busy." He wanted some snow to eat ;
and while eating it, told again of his joy at being
with me. He was his own loving self once more.
Those last days are beautiful days to remember.
He was so patient. Not one complaint was heard
from him. Everything was just as it should be.
252 THE LIFE OF
He so often said, " Thank yon/ or " Yon are so*
kind." It was a pleasure to do for him. For years
we had not enjoyed such uninterrupted communion
with each other. He was so quiet, and rested so
calmly in the arms of the loving Savior. There
was a halo about him. As I think of those days,
I remember his face shone with a loving light, not
of this world. As the day dawned, he said, "Dear
est, it is daylight." I asked, "Do you wish me to
get up ?" He answered, " On my awn account, I
do ; but on yours, I rather you would lie longer.
As I arose, he wished to change from the bed to the
couch. After arrangements Were made to make
him comfortable, he arose, partly dressed himself?
and walked to the couch. I asked, " How do you
walk this morning?" He answered, "Quite like
myself." I covered him warmly, as we supposed ;
but after a little while, he asked for more covering
and again, after a short time, asked for more, saying
he thought he was going to have a chill. I gave him
warm drinks, and put hot applications to his feet
and hands. He was not wild, as he was the night
before ; but sank into a stupor from which it was
hard to arouse him, and when aroused, he did not
talk connectedly.
Soon, the doctor came ; but he was better, and
conversed with him rationally. I commenced to
tell the doctor about his chills, and my fears about
them; and he looked up at me, saying: "Those
chills have not hurt me. My fever is not increased.
I am weak, and easily affected by any change. 1
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 253
The doctor coincided with him, and said we must
be very careful about the temperature of the room,
when we made changes. He also said he did not
sec anything in the way of his recovery, if we used
care. Soon after this, Bro. Stratton called ; but he
must have had another chill, and could not tell of
it ; for he was in a stupor again, and did not talk
connectedly. He spoke of a beautiful picture, beau
tiful doors, and beautiful colors. When Bro. Strat
ton left, I went with him into another room, for a
few moments. I told him of my fears ; but that
the doctor did not seem alarmed.
When I returned, Mr. Crooks had evidently tried
to arise from the couch, for his feet were on the
floor. I asked, "Do you want to go to the bed?"
He answered, "Yes." I helped him to sit up. In
a moment he fell back, apparently lifeless. I arous
ed him, by rubbing his hands and face ; and said to
him, "Now, I will help you get up." I did so ; but
he fell back a second time. Then I called in
friends. We used every means to arouse action we
could devise ; but without success. After carrying
him back to the bed, we sent to the WESLEYAN Of
fice and for the doctor. While the messenger was
gone, we still kept doing all we could for him, and
finally gave him some wine. After a little, he
opened his eyes, and tried to speak j but for a while
did not articulate a word distinctly, except, " Come !
Come !" I said to a friend, who stood near by :
"It is so hard that I cannot understand what he
says." He heard what I said, and looking at me
254 THE LIFE OP
earnestly, he said, distinctly : " Why, I said it three
times." He had tried three times to tell me some*
thing ; but failed to speak so as to be understood.
In a moment there came a great earnestness into
his eyes, as he grasped my hands, saying, " Be
quick !" and drew me to him, and kissed me, look
ing into my eyes as though there was something he
wanted to make me understand. In a moment, he
drew me to him again, saying, "Be quick 1" and
kissed me. After he did this, he said, " There is
rest beyond the skies," or " There is rest in the
skies. 7 Three or four times he said, " Be quick !"
as though he had but a moment in which to say
"farewell." He held my hands with a close grasp,
and continued trying to speak ; his head aad lips
were moving, and a faint sound could be heard ; a
murmuring of inarticulate words, until he sank, to
speak no more.
The doctor came, gave him medicine, and went
to see the physician who had attended him during
his sickness, and who had been sent for ; but he
was not able to leave his room, and returned in
time to see him
"Breathe his life out sweetly there* 7
Tfrus, he quietly, peacefully, " fell asleep in Jesus,"
about thirty minutes after twelve o clock, Tuesday,
December 15th, 1874.
OBSEQUIES . AND MEMORIAL SERVICES IN
HONOR OP REV. ADAM CROOKS.
"The services at the residence were conducted
&EV. ADAM CROOKS. 255
by Rev. Elijah Gaylord, late President of the Sy
racuse Conference. He spoke as follows :
"Dearly beloved friends, we have met at this
house of mourning, and would call upon our hearts
and all that is within us to magnify His grace
which has distinguished us as the monuments of
God s amazing mercy. We all mourn and feel
deeply afflicted, and yet we feel that God doeth all
things well. We know there is one heart that
bleeds at this providence. There are many who
sympathize. Deeply afflicted, we shall remember
with sadness this event for many days, but we hope
and trust that God will bless this affliction, deep as
it is, to all who were connected with our beloved
brother who has departed. We feel that we had,
all of us, an interest in him. He has been, in a
certain sense, public property. We feel, deeply
feel the loss of our departed brother, and while we
mourn we can but realize that our loss is his infi
nite and eternal gain. We can say in the language
of one of old, The Lord gave and the Lord hath
taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
May the spirit of the Lord, the consolation of his
grace, and the power of the Holy Ghost, rain down
upon this dear sister, and all the friends of our
departed brother, and may we all share in the same
grace and mercy. We bless the name of God that
He has spared our deceased brother so long, to the
Connection, and has made him so useful. May his
mantle fall upon some, yea, upon many devoted
servants of the cause of Christ, and fit them for
256 THE LIFE OF
the important duties that he has so ably conducted;
and may the dear Lord enable us still to live and
triumph in his grace.
" He then closed the services by prayer.
" SERVICES AT THE CHURCH.
" Memorial services at the Wesleyan church.
" The church was hung with black and white,
arranged in festoons around the entire interior,
with the pulpit heavily draped with black cloth
adorned with vines. Within the chancel rail, on
the communion table, both also draped, stood a
large and elegant cross composed of calla lilies
and white flowers. Another cross of white flow
ers, and an elaborate crown and cross of the same
pure material, camillias, japonicas, double white
primroses, daphne odare, with white fringe chri-
santhemums, the cross sprinkled over with smilax,
and the crown with white rosebuds, adorned the
coffin.
" The remains, enclosed in an elegant rosewood
casket, were borne by the following named gentle
men as pall-bearers :
" Rev. S. H. Foster, pastor of the First Wesleyan
Church of Syracuse.
" Rev. L. N. Stratton, assistant editor of the
AMERICAN WESLEYAN.
" Rev. D. S. Kinney, President of the Allegheny
Conference.
" Rev. J. P. Betker, President of New York
Conference.
REV. ADAM CROOKS, 257
" Rev. A. S. Wightman, President of Syracuse
Conference.
"Rev. N. Wardner, President of Champlain Con
ference.
" Rev. G. L. Paine, Mexico, N. Y.
" Rev. A. F. Dempsey, Seneca Falls, N. Y,
" Rev. E. Barnetson, Groton, N. Y.
" Rev. S. Burgess, Blodgetts, Mills.
" Rev. E. Gaylord, Syracuse, N. Y.
" The relatives and friends of the deceased fol
lowed, Mrs. Crooks being supported by her brother,
Edwin Willits, Esq., of Monroe, Michigan, while
sympathizing friends and neighbors filled the house
to its utmost capacity.
" The services, which were under the direction
of the pastor, Rev. S. H. Foster, were opened with
reading of the hymn, "Unveil thy bosom, faithful
tomb," by the Rev. Seth Burgess, followed with
prayer by the Rev. A. F. Dempsey, the attending
clergy kneeling around the chancel.
" Selections from the xxiii Psalm, " The Lord is
my shepherd," and from 1 Corinthians, xv, "As we
have borne the image of the earthly, so also we
shall bear the image of the heavenly," were read
by the Rev. J. P. Betker, of New York.
" The hymn, " How blest the righteous when he
dies," was then sung.
" Rev. S. H. Foster announced that short address
es would be made by several friends and co-labor
ers of the deceased, many of whom had come from
a distance to attend these memorial services.
258 THE LIFE OP
41 As for myself, little did I think, when last I
shook hands with our departed brother, that he
was so soon to be taken from us. On that occa
sion, as I took him by the hand to say good-bye, a
smile played upon his face and he said to me, "All
is right, brother, all is right." We are here, as a
Church and congregation, as mourners to-day. But
we mourn not as those without hope. There are
many outside of our own Church and congregation,
who are in deep sympathy with us in our affliction.
Our departed brother was to us a leader, and in
the relations he sustained to us he was our head.
When in our exodus, we came to the Red Sea, the
voice of his words, as he essayed to speak on G-od s
behalf, were, &lt;G-o Forward! He was our Moses?
who was faithful in all his house, like as ancient
Moses, in all the relations he sustained to us as a
denomination, bearing testimony as did Moses of
old. He will no more be seen by us &lt;in the taber
nacle of our congregation. No more will he come
forth from the revealed glory of G-od s approbation
and presence, to cheer us on. But our hope is,
that G-od will raise up unto us a Joshua in his
stead.
" Two verses of the 837th hymn were then sung.
" When floating on life s troubled sea,
By storms and tempests driven,
Hope with her radiant finger points
To brighter scenes in heaven.
She bids the storms of life to cease
The troubled breast be calm ;
ftEV. ADAM CROOKS- 259
And in the wounded heart she pours
Religion s healing balm."
REV. J. P. BETKER, OF NEW YORK.
" None, perhaps, who are present on this occasion
are in any condition to speak. We are mourners
around the coffin of our best friend, and we cannot
speak as in calmer moments We might. I came
nearly three hundred miles to attend this funeral.
In my experience as a man, I have found very few
real friendships in the world. I can count on my
fingers ends the true and genuine friends of my
heart. One, is in that coffin to-day. I feel ill-
qualified to speak here. But in thinking of my
brother I can think of one thing as true of him
his great soul ; his great mind. He possessed the
true elements of greatness ; and if I were to at
tempt to impress anything upon the brethren here,
it would be the imitation of that greatness of soul
that distinguished him. All true greatness has its
beginning in piety. I knew him when he was al
most a beardless boy. He and I started in the
ministry at the same period, belonged to the same
Conference.
I remember the first place that I ever preached
as a Wesleyan minister; the next one who follow
ed me was brother Adam Crooks.
I say true greatness begins in real piety ; and I
never knew one truly great the genuineness of
whose piety there could be any suspicion. The
foundational basis of true greatness is integrity.
And if there was one among us distinguished for
260 THE LIFE OF
truth ; for integrity ; for solidity in this respect, it
was Adam Crooks ; a man of truth in all the de
velopments of his character ; in all the manifesta
tions of his spirit. Wherever Adam Crooks was,
there was a true man. True greatness too is
characterized by a boundlessness of benevolence.
A great soul cannot nurse itself in selfishness.
His spirit was a broad catholic spirit, that took in
all mankind. There was not a child who was be
neath his notice. The last time that we put up
together at our Annual Conference, we slept,
ate, and talked together; and all the little chil
dren about the house had a sweet word from him.
I never knew him to be otherwise than kindly dis
posed in every respect. And because he was thus
disposed he made himself what he was great.
True greatness, too. is estimated by its depths
of principles^and its breadth of measures. I never
met a man that I thought was so perfectly settled
in what he believed to be true as. this dear brother.
* * * * *
" True greatness is distinguished by a moral
courage that takes no account of the odds that are
against it; makes no arrangement for defeat, and
assures itself of victory because its cause is just.
" I do not think I could say anything more true
of our brother than this ; that he took no odds of
the mighty forces that were against him. He went
down to North Carolina in the days when it was
as much as man s life was worth to call himself an
Abolitionist ; and he passed through fearful prison
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 261
scenes there, and all through the history of the
great war against the fearful system of slavery, he
went right into the very heat of the battle, not
asking whether we should be defeated, but having
the most firm confidence in the justice of our cause
a cause which he lived to see so gloriously triumph.
"True greatness knows no fraudulent conceal
ments of its principles or aims, and whatever you
and I may think of this brother, especially those
who differ with him on the question of Secret So
cieties, we must give him credit for this statement,
and it grew out of the very nature of his character
that True greatness knows no fraudulent conceal
ment of its principles or aims. He was a day-light
man. His works were done in the light, and not
in the darkness, and so he stood broadly and firm
ly fixed in his relation to truth.
" True greatness may not always convert its op-
posers to its own standard, but it will command re
spect. And I venture to say that although our
brother was firmly seated in his views, and chal
lenged all combat as to the truth of his position,
there is not a man in this city whose opinion is
worthy of respect who would not say, "Adam
Crooks has deserved my regard and respect."
# .# "## #
t
REV. G. L. PAINE, OF MEXICO, N. Y.
"As has been said, we are mourners here to-day.
We cannot talk as we would under other circum
stances. But I would say, I have been associated
in Conference capacity with this dear brother in the
262 THE LIFE OF
Rochester Conference, ever since he has been here as
Editor and Agent, up to this last Spring. Our first
meeting was a happy one. Favorable opinions
were formed on the first look I had of him, and as
we met from time to time in Conference relation,
every word seemed to add to the respect and the
regard 1 had for him. Often in our Conference
relations knotty questions came up; something
that appeared personal, whereby feelings might be
touched, and I have seen the dear brother start
across the Conference floor to some person, and it
seemed as if the magic touch of his hand, and the
words dropped from his lips, would quiet every
thing down, and calm all heated feeling. And
then standing anywhere on the Conference floor,
when a difficult question would come up, and it
seemed that there might be a break, he would un
ravel and point out the course, and the Conference,
seemingly, would take the course, and all would
be harmony. These things as they fell from his
lips brought that brother to my heart.
" I stand here to-day as a second mourner with
these brethren that have stood by him; and my
trust is that by and by we shall meet this loved
one where parting scenes will never come.
" Two verses of the 852nd hymn were then sung,
" I would not lire alvvay ; I ask not to stay.
Where storm after storm rises dark o er the way ;
The few lurid mornings that dawn on us here
Are enough for life s woes, full enough for its cheer."
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 263
w RET. SETH BURGESS OF BLODGETT s MILLS, N. Y.,
Spoke as follows. There is very much that
might be said in regard to our brother who is
gone; much that to our mind is interesting; but
there is one trait of his character to which I wish
to call your attention just a few moments ; and that
is as an honest man and as a successful financier.
At the time that brother Crooks was elected Agent,
if my memory is correct, I was elected as one of
the members of the Book Committee; and that, as
a matter of course, brought us into an association
that we otherwise should never have had ; and I
can say in truth, that with all brother Crook s oth
er good qualities, he was an honest man ; honest
I believe to the very letter. It is one of the prom
inent principles of the Christian religion to be
strictly honest. Brother Crooks has always sought
to have his doings examined and investigated;
and when I proposed a little less than four years
ago, to have the books of the agent audited, broth
er Crooks favored it at once ; coveted it ; wished
to have it done. We appointed a committee who
examined the books and everything was found sat
isfactory.
" Brother Crooks was not only an honest man,
but he has been a very successful business man in
our employment. It would require more time than
I have to give you much of an idea of brother
Crooks business transactions. But it is enough
to say that when he became our servant in this de
partment, we were excessively poor; we were so
264 THE LIFE OF
poor that the retiring agent discouraged us from
trying to carry forward the enterprise. Brother
Crooks has done well. We are not rich to-day?
but we are by several thousand dollars better off
financially than we were when brother Crooks
came in here as our Agent. Time, as I said, fails
to tell you what he has done ; but his life with us,
or so far as we knew of, has not only been a life of
humble, devoted piety, but it has been a life of suc
cessful business. And he succeeded, perhaps, be
yond what any other man we have would have
done. As to this we do not know ; but we trust
that God in His providence will raise up another
man to take brother Crooks place and carry for
ward that enterprise in which brother Crooks
whole soul and body was enlisted. I felt more,
when I came here, like taking a seat down there
with those mourners, than I did like standing here ;
and I did not expect to stand here. But I am
glad to say this much, and I believe that we who
knew him can bear testimony to the same truth,
that brother Crooks was an honest man.
REV. A. S. WlGHTMAN OF SYRACUSE CONFERENCE.
" My relations with our departed brother, as
many in this congregation know, were very inti
mate. I was his pastor for some years, and I can
see now just the pew where he used to sit, with his
open, loving, manly face fixed upon me, as I would
endeavor to preach the Gospel. It is a pleasant
thing to remember to-day that he always treated
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 265
me with the most profound respect, and never al
lowed an opportunity to pass without giving me
words of marked encouragement. Often when I
have felt despondent and discouraged, I have
gained new courage from his hearty and cheerful
words, which always seemed to be appropriate to
the very time. There is a kind of friendship that
might be called sunshine friendship. It is easy to
be friendly to everybody when it costs us nothing ;
but it is quite another thing to be a friend in
need when there requires to be some little outlay
on the part of the one showing that friendship, in
order that the benefit designed may be imparted.
" In my experience with this dear brother, I have
seen it verified many times that he was truly a
friend in need. Often in times of trouble and sor
row he has taken me by the hand with the gen
erous tear quivering in his eye, and has said,
Brother, do not be discouraged ; trust in G-od and
look higher. Oh ! as such reminiscences aa these
come to my memory, I feel indeed like a mourner
on this occasion.
" An incident occurred previous to the election of
our present editor, Rev. L. N. Stratton. Brother
Crooks found it necessary to leave the office a part
of the time to attend to business in distant parts.
He was in the habit of leaving the editorial work
in my hands. On one occasion perhaps the first
occasion of his absence I said, Brother Crooks
what instructions will you give me now in refer
ence to the management of the paper during your
266 THE LIFE OF
absence, Nothing, my brother, said he, but
exercise of your own judgment; only remember
this one thing strike hard and high for the truth. 7
And there was an expression of nobility, of Chris
tian strength of character, that he made at that
time, and has left upon my mind a marked impres
sion. I seem to have adopted it as a sort of rule
f life.
" I feel that I have lost a friend and a brother.
Such a one perhaps I shall not meet again. But
this thought is an especial comfort to me. I have
seen enough of the world s trials and sorrows. I
feel very often now a longing for quiet rest ; and
I know that I shall find rest in that home to which
our dear brother has gone, where there are no
tears and where sorrows never come."
REV. D. S. KENNEY, PRESIDENT OF ALLEGHEKT
CONFERENCE.
" Receiving at the midnight hour, over three
Hundred miles distant, the announcement of the sad
bereavement that convenes us to-day, I stepped
across the way to one of our " fathers in Israel f
one whose name is well known as a minister
among us, in advanced life, walking closely with
God, and broke to him the sad intelligence, said,
" Father Lamb, why could not God have taken me
and left brother Crooks a few years longer?"
We both knelt before God, and I know that our
hearts were so moved, that cheerfully, had it been
God s will, we would have died that he might have
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 267
lived. I knew nothing about the circumstances
of the case, but I thought perhaps my dear brother
Willits here, was so circumstanced in the far
West that he could not be here and sympathize
with his sister, and the wife of the dear departed
might perhaps desire me as among the mourners,
and I therefore decided to come, and to willingly
sit, if it might be, by her side, she having been my
teacher when a boy, and being my teacher at
the time of her engagement and marriage with
brother Crooks. I can say that I heartily en
dorse having been most intimate for over twen
ty years with our departed brother, all that
has been said of his traits of character. But
I wish just here to say that brother Crooks was a
growingly pious man. He knew the worth of
prayer, as perhaps many of us do not. I have
personally, in those fearful conflicts of the recent
years of his official relationship here among you,
and with us as a Christian family ; I have known
him, like the dear Master in the days of his incar
nation, to spend the whok night in iiraycr. And the
last years, and months, and weeks of his life,
marked a growth in intense personal piety and
devotion to God. The last work that he has
dictated, that is in our hands, that he sent to me
in pamphlet form a few days only ago, " Pro
cesses of Salvation," in which the distinctive
Wesleyanic and Methodistic view of entire conse
cration to God and sanctification, is so clearly
defined and scripturally enforced, has not been
268 THE LIFE OF
with him a simple theory, but has been an experi
mental reality.
" We frequently have corresponded, as well as
had personal conversation, these recent months,
upon this subject. And while brother Crooks was
a thorough- going reformer, (all that has been said
with reference to that, I can say amen to) yet after
all, he did not desire the continuance of our or
ganization simply on account of our reforms. He
wanted us to maintain the truth and the right, and
to be a distinctively holy people. The last letter
I got from him before he started upon his Western
t our which proved in my estimation the fatal tour
of his earthly career he sat down and wrote to
me a short note. He evidently had been in the
office, engaged in earnest wrestling prayer ; said
he, " Brother Kinney, join me in praying that our
Churches may be set on fire of God." Oh, how
my heart responded, and how I have endeavored
to keep that request. And as I learn in the de
parting moments of our brother; getting a
glimpse of the glory that was being revealed,
and uttering, perhaps, in not the clearest articu
lation, but yet the sentiment that, There is rest
in the skies." I feel that there is rest in the
glory of God s grace, or rather, taking the lan
guage of a letter not long since received, that
there is, &lt; room in God s golden, spiritual p.hariot
for us all to ride. By his help and grace I mean
to ride there, and I expect to greet our dear de
parted brother in the skies where there is rest. "
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 269
REV. D. D. LORE, D. D., EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN
CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.
" Dearly beloved Christian brethren ; my friends
and myself, are here this afternoon to express to
you our deep sympathy in your affliction, and our
Christian love. We are not here for the purpose
of eulogizing the brother which you have lost,
You knew his worth, well. I have been impressed
by the remarks made, and am satisfied, and indeed
was satisfied before this, that he was a great and
good man. You have lost from your branch of the
Church of Christ, a leader ; a strong and courage
ous leader; one who never feared to do the right.
I loved brother Crooks personally.
" Similarity of profession brought us into con
tact. I met him frequently. I never met him
without pleasure. J never met him without dis
covering real manhood. We differed with regard
to some things, and why should we not differ.
We agreed to differ. Yet I loved him as a
Christian brother, and his name and memory in
our Church, so far as he is known, I am sure is
respected. He commanded respect as has been said
by one of his brethren here.
" But we are not here to occupy time so precious,
and it belongs to others who stood in closer rela
tions to this dear man than we stand ; closer in
many respects, but not closer in others. We are
one in spirit. We are all brethren in Christ Jesus.
We look forward together through the blinding
tears of earth, to that happy day when we shall
270 THE LIFE OF
meet with our Savior in yonder brighter clime, and
there greet each other as one common band of
brothers. " May God bless the afflicted Church,"
is the prayer of those I am permitted to represent
here. May God bless you, dear brethren, and may
you be a light in the world, set for holiness of
heart and of life, pushing forward the victories of
the Cross,"
REV. L. N. STRATTON OF THE AMERICAN WESLEYAK.
"It is almost useless for me to attempt to say
anything to-day. No words I might use could
express the feeling of my heart. Language is
lame; it goes limping after thought. The inti
mate relationship that I sustained to brother
Crooks as co-editor, was such as to place us in
constant communion with each other. We saw
each other by day and by night ; at all hours and
all seasons. I loved him much. The death of no
one outside my own family relations could have
caused me such deep sorrow as his own departure-
But he is gone. In my dreams he comes back.
He gives me counsel again as he did while here.
He came to my office, as it seemed to me, night
before last, to tell me something, as he has often
done in the past.
" He had peculiarities that fitted him, especially
for the leadership that he had. He turned back
for no storms. He was courageous. There was
no night so dark as to keep him at home when
duty called him away ; no train going so late at
BEV. ADAM CROOKS. 271
night, or so early in the morning that he could not
take it. The miles were not too many, nor the
roads too bad, nor he too weary, to fill his engage
ments at the hour. If the railroad station were
twenty miles from where he might labor on the
Sabbath, and he should take a train at six o clock
on Monday morning, he would be there, even if he
had to travel the distance through rain and dark
ness, in an open wagon. There was no effort that
it was too hard for him to make, and make cheer
fully. He dared everything. He rode over every
thing. He made events, us it seemed, if they did
not occur. He bent all his energies with a will
that was ruthless, to push forward the enterprises
in Hrhich his soul was enlisted. We never, it
seems to me now, shall see his like again. But
God knows. He can raise up such agencies as he
wants, and can do his work without any of us if
he wishes us removed. Oh, how gladly would I
be there in that coffin, if that would place him
here ! But God knows best. He is our leader.
Jesus is our friend ; and more than ever I feel like
putting my head on his breast and saying, 4 Thy
will be done. 1
"In our prayer-meetings our dear brother has
especially been remembered. I suppose a few
nights since, when there were so many engaged ia
prayer for his recovery, that victory would turn
for us. For at first it seemed to us that we could
not, must not have it so;, but at length all said,
272 THE LIFE OF
Thy will, God, be done. I then looked for
victory, but God knew best, and it is done.
" A great load rests upon our hearts, upon our
lives, upon our Connection. We who are brethren
in this work, must lift the harder now, that the
weight rests upon us the more heavily.
" Our brother was a man who had a kind word
for every one. He was kind in his affections for
all denominations of the Christian Church. I see
around me here brethren of whom I have heard
him speak so highly brethren in the ministry.
Could I speak his words again, how gladly would
I give them to these brethren of other Churches,
who mourn with us his sad loss. His voice we
shall no more hear ; but his words of admonition
and encouragement rest in our hearts and in our
memories. We shall cherish them. We pray
that God may fit us for all he is fitting for us,
and help us to bear the burdens that are resting
upon us.
" My dear friends, let us be just what the Lord
would have us to be, that we may meet our dear
brother in the Paradise of God."
REV. N. WARDNER, PRESIDENT OF CHAMPLAIN
CONFERENCE.
deeply, solemnly sad is this funeral hour.
Soul s fondest ties are riven, and the falling tears
of sable widowhood, in silent, speechless grief give
evidence that the soul s full fountain of sorrow is
broken up. Friends from near and far gather, and
HEV. ADAM CROOKS. 273
their mingled sighs and tears say, See how they
loved him. For a prince and a great man is fallen
in Israel to-day; but thank God, fallen with
his well girt armor bright with use, and his face
toward the foe. For, our dear brother, in what.
ever moral conflicts he was engaged, dared to
do right and to suffer for that right doing if need
be. Early in life he laid his heart, his body, his
all at the foot of the Cross, and Heaven sanctified
the offering. And he went forth to labor in his
Master s vineyard clothed with power, and when
I remember with gratitude when freedom and
oppression grappled in mortal conflict in our land,
down in the Carolinas, his voice echoed the notes
of a freedom-loving Gospel. In the very teeth of
oppression, our brother spoke words of liberty.
He dared to beard the lion in his lair, and though
a ruthless mob thrust him into a loathsome, South,
ern prison, yet he lived to bless his own liberty
and to see the soul of a nation s martyred Presi
dent go up to God with the broken manacles of
four millions of freed men in his hands. And on
those blood-rusted manacles there were scars me-
thinks, made by the burnished steel of our brother
as he wielded the sword of eternal truth for liberty
and the right. Who wonders that a man who
dared to stand and defend the right in the face of
any and every oppression ; who wonders that to
day a leader as he was, and revered and loved
as we learned to revere and love him that we
12*
274 THE LIFE OF
gather about his bier and shed tears of affection ;
pearly drops of love ; for we loved him, and the
Church bows with speechless grief, and through
eyes suffused with tears, looks up and struggles to
say, Heaven help us to say Thy will be done.
The cause of reform with which he was identified
in every phase, bows and weeps ; for a friend is
gone. That heart, that hand, that voice which is
still to-day was identified with every good word
and work. Every holy enterprise found a place in
his heart, in his sympathies, in his prayers. May
his falling mantle wrap some spirit with the same
devotion : the same consecration ; yea, wrap many."
" Mysterious are the ways of Providence ; a busy
Providence does not stop to explain all its whys
and wherefores, and yet, I suppose, dear sister
Crooks and afflicted friends, the light of Heaven
will dispel all the darkness -and mystery that may
be gathered around this affliction from the hands of
Providence. Look up to the light. For just be
yond these heavy clouds blazes the sunlight of eter
nal glory. Our brother Kinney has told us, that
our departed brother with his dying lips sought to
speak what methinks his vision saw of life, bliss
and heaven There is rest beyond the skies.
There is rest beyond the skies. Ah ! it is labor
here, it was labor with him ; he coveted it ; he threw
his giant arms around it and prayed Heaven to
sustain him in it. It is rest now for him ; let it be
labor for us. Though he was our leader we mourn,
and it is right we should mourn; we can but
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 275
ffioarn. Yet yonder, on a throne, high and lifted
up, sits One who will lead us; and methinks,
amidst the storm which has gathered around us,
though the vessel heaves and rocks beneath the
tempest s power, I hear a voice above the sound of
the waves, l It is I : be not afraid ; trust thou ia
Me and all shall be well. "
The choir and congregation then united in sing
ing the first two verses of the 808th hyinn,
Rev. E. Gaylord, of Syracuse, dismissed the con
gregation with the benediction.
The choir sang,
"Asleep in Jesus ! 4&gt;lessed sleep !"
as the large audience moved around to view the
remains. Finally the coffin was closed and the re*
mains were borne away to the hearse and the char-
nel house in Oakwood. There the coffin was re
opened, and the relatives took the final leave j the
affectionate wife placing tenderly a rich bouquet of
white flowers beside the cheek of her precious one,
as the last kind act of affection before the final
adieu. This done, the coffin was closed and low
ered into the outer case, and left in the house of
the dead to await the choice of a burial-place.
The carriages were refilled, and we all mournfully
passed away through the chilly evening air, leav
ing the mortal part of our beloved brother in its
cheerless bed. Let him rest he has often wea
ried ; let him be quiet now, for often has he borne
the weight of the charge on the battlements of sin.
2l(&gt; THE LIFE OF
Revered, honored, loved; the memory of his natnef
is fragrant with affection, and its mention will be a
battle-cry to all our Churches.
EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY AND APPRECIA
TION.
LETTER FROM EEV. L R ROYCE.
And so my dear brother Crooks sleeps. Fifty
years on earth, and then away to the cloudless-
land. I saw him first Sept. 2nd, 1851, then twenty-
seven years of age. As members of the same Con
ferences, we were intimate for seventeen years,
and for twenty-three we have met every year save
one. In August I saw him for the last time. For
three days we occupied the same room and the
same bed. Our last night together we talked late
and lovingly, all the years of our past were gone}
over. Much that he said was spoken in confidence
and must not be repeated. He impressed me in
that night s talk with his singular honesty, and
manly affection. I have thought that leadership
had made him a little forgetful of old friends. The
thought perished in the warm words of that mid
night hour. Indeed I found his love as green as a
maiden s and as steady as the star. I have loved
him so much, I want, with a trembling hand, to
drop one little flower on his grave. With a figure
so commanding, a voice so full and rich, an expe
rience so Christian, a mind so well stored with
practical truths, he could have stood in the first
pulpits, with an executive and financial skill pos-
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 277
sessed by but few ; he could have made for him
self a grand record in connection with any of the
great boards. He chose to stay with a people
who, in the eyes of the world, were feeble, and
with a small human prospect of a permanent fu
ture. In this he proved his loyalty to heart-con
victions and shamed others, who for place and pelf
put these convictions under their feet. I know
not that he leaves his wife stocks or money he
leaves her what is better, " a good name." I
weep for him as for the kindred of my Father s
house, and extend to her whose soul is now filled
with sorrow my prayerful sympathies. I have
seen his birth-place. I write within a few miles
of where he entered wedded life. I hope after a
little to see him on the shining shore." Till then
I pray for his courage and endurance.
MEMORIAL MEETIl^J.
The sad news of the death of Rev. Adam Crooks,
editor and publisher of the AMERICAN WESLEYAN,
of Syracuse, N. Y., formerly for many years pastor
of the Wesleyan Church of this city, was received
by his many friends and personal acquaintances
with extreme sorrow and universal regret. An
impromptu memorial service was held at the
church Sunday morning, December 27th, when ap
propriate remarks were made by the pastor, Rev.
J. E. Carroll, Rev. Mr, Sturtevant, M. B. Clark,
James Christian and others, all breathing the most
intense sorrow at the death of Mr. Crooks, and ex-
278 tHELIFE OP
pressive of their admiration of him as a Christian
minister and friend,
MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS.
At the regular meeting of the Syracuse Ministe
rial Association, held at the parlors of the Fourth
Presbyterian Church, December 21st, 1874, the
committee reported the following resolutions,
which were unanimously adopted.
WHEREAS, Since the last meeting of the Syracuse Min
isterial Association its circle has been broken by the death
of one of its most respected and honored members, Re v.
Adam Crooks, D. D., therefore
Resolved, That this association has received the sad tid -
ings of the death of our brother Crooks with most sincere
and heart-felt sorrow.
Resolved, That his firmer and decided Christian charac
ter, his eminent Christian zeal and courage, his untiring
energy in every good word and work, his spirit of quick
and fraternal sympathy, his determined adhesion to his
principles and his confessed abilities, have endeared him to
his brethren of this association and given him a high place
in their respect.
Resolved, That we tender the deep and sincere sympa
thy of this association to his bereaved wife and kindred.
Resolved, That we convey our heart-felt condolence to the
denomination which in the death of Dr. Crooks has suffer
ed the loss of an acknowledged leader.
NELSON MILLARD,
J. L. DARSIE,
H. A. SIZER, }&gt; Com.
M. L. BERGER,
A. F. BEARD.
FROM RELIGIOUS TELESCOPE.
A truly great man in Israel has fallen. Eev.
Adam Crooks, of the American Wesleyan Connec-
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 279
tion, died the 15th of December, aged fifty years.
For a number of years he had been the publishing
agent and one of the editors part of the time sole
editor of the American Wesleyan, and treasurer
of most or all of the Connectional Boards. In these
positions he displayed remarkable power, espec
ially as a financier. He was almost the soul of
these important departments of the Connection,
and the last years of his life were, to a considera
ble extent, given to the raising of a fund for the
building of a publishing house. At the time of his
death, though the Wesleyans are not strong, nu
merically, twenty-two thousand dollars had been
secured. As a servant of God and a leader of an
heroic division of the army of Christ, he was an
extraordinary man. Well may the Wesleyan peo
ple especially, and true Christians generally, re
gard with sincere grief the departure of this noble
leader in Christ s Church militant.
During the years when the foolish attempt to
unite the non-episcopal Churches into one Church
gave so great an impetus to disintegration in the
Wesleyan Church, Mr. Crooks stood as the chief
standard-bearer of his Church, and exercised an
influence which was blessed of God as the chief
means of saving that denomination from dissolu
tion, and in turning again in its favor the tide of
prosperity. His labors, the past ten years, will
give luster to some of the most important pages in
the history of a Church which has been more use
ful in its influence on other Churches, perhaps, than
280 THE LIFE OF
in its own direct work, which has been evangelical
and heroic. He had typhoid fever while visiting
the Western Conferences last Fall, and, probably
owing to an energy which denied him that abso
lute rest from cares and labors which his condi
tion demanded, he at last yielded before continued
disease, and fell asleep in Christ, at his home in
Syracuse, New York, To his worth as a man, as
a Christian minister and editor, the tears of his
co-laborers and of his people, the tribute of the
ministers and members of other Churches of Syra
cuse, especially the editorial fraternity there, bear
strong testimony. The great leader fell when all
eyes were turned to him as a trusted one, but fell
when his people had reached a point where others
could, better than ever before, move forward, lead
ing the Church which he loved so well and for
which he had toiled so hard, in the pathway of
safety, and to still greater victory and prosperity.
As a preacher, editor, and financier, Mr. Crooks
was no ordinary man. In him were combined, in
a remarkable degree, gentleness and energy, dis
cretion and courage, tolerance and radicalism.
Twice have we heard brother Crooks preach
before a Conference, and we have enjoyed his com
pany in our home. He was a genial, pious, whole-
souled man. And his person and bearing contrib
uted not a little to his influence as a preacher and
leader. In the language of Dr. Lore, he was " the
very personification of mature manhood ; large and
powerful in physique, active and energetic, culm
REV ADAM CROOKS. 281
and dignified in mien, he seemed to be the man of
the multitude, formed to bear burdens, made to
live. He was the very embodiment of caution
and boldness, courtesy and firmness. As a
preacher, he was clear and able, spiritual and in
spiring, ever faithful to truth and to the right.
His eloquence possessed strength rather than pol
ish, grandeur rather than the flowers of rhetoric
and elocution. There was, however, in his ser
mons, a surpassing moral and spiritual beauty,
combined with other essential elements, which, in
the estimation of either the learned or the unlearn
ed, constitute the God-chosen teacher or leader
Both times we heard him, his sermons were wor
thy of the body of intelligent ministers present,
and still " the common people heard him gladly."
To our departed friend and Christian brother, to
our fellow-worker in the gospel vineyard, to our
co-laborer in the great cause of moral reform, to
the patient sufferer and successful toiler, to the
great leader and now crowned hero, we pay this
feeble tribute, and answer back, Farewell ! But
our farewell is not forever. With thousands that
have revered and loved him, we hope to greet him
among the glorified when the voice of Him whose
throne is ever on the side of truth, purity, and ho
liness, and against deception, sin, and iniquity,
shall call his servants from labor to reward, from
bearing the cross to wearing the crown.
FROM METHODIST RECORDER.
" The last American IVeslcyan comes draped in
282 THE LIFE OP
mourning at the loss of its editor, brother Adam
Crooks. It seems that his over work at the Fall
Conferences, and in the office and pulpit since, has
prematurely removed this busy man from the ranks
of Christian laborers. He was a devoted servant
of the Church of his choice. He was not only the
editor of the weekly paper, but the treasurer of
several Boards, and the adviser and friend whom,
pastors sought from all parts of the Connection.
He was a strong man, physically, intellectually and
spiritually; a true reformer, upright, honest?
straightforward, and full of faith and hope. The
Wesleyan Church will miss her valiant leader.
He was true to his paper, true to his people, and
true to God. We join in sincere lamentation with
our sister household of faith, and mingle our tears
with hers at the grave of a good and an eminently
useful man. He loved liberty more than position,
truth more than fame, his little, earnest, united,
and zealous Church more than the popular sects
with all their emoluments and honors. Peace to
the ashes of our dear, dead brother. We hope to
overtake him in the land of rest."
FROM NORTHERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE PUBLISHED
AT SYRACUSE.
" The death of this Christian brother shocked
our citizens by its suddenness on Tuesday, the 15th
inst. We had been accustomed to see him in our
streets, the very personification of mature manhood,
large and powerful in physique, active and ener-
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 283
gctic, calm and dignified in mien, he seemed to be
the man of the multitude formed to bear burdens,
made to live, but he has fallen in the day of his
strength, amidst a multiplicity of cares, and ap
parently when most useful and most needed.
Brother Crooks stood as the head and representa
tive of the American Wesleyan Church. He was
Editor and Agent of the publication department,
and Treasurer of the various Connectional funds,
and benevolent institutions. In these respects, the
Church, humanly speaking, depended entirely upon
his ability and energy. He took this position
when Dr. Prindle resigned and many others, lead
ing men of the Wesleyan Church, judging it better
to abandon their organization and return to the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Many of their prom
inent men did so. A crisis had come in their
Church alfairs, and dissolution seemed imminent.
At this juncture brother Crooks threw himself into
the breach, and as one of the speakers at the fune
ral said, became their Moses, and cried " Go for
ward." It is not, perhaps, too much to say, that
if there had been no Adam Crooks at that crisis,
there would have been no American Wesleyan
Church now; certainly it would not have been
what it now is. His loss to the Church as far as
human foresight can see is irreparable.
"Brother Crooks was a devoted Christian min
ister, moulded after the strictest New Testament
pattern. He was a man who never chaffered with
duty, he knew only to do right and was ready to
284 THE LIFE OP
meet the consequences. He was religious in his
emotions as well as in his principles. His Chris
tian experience was mature, rich, and mellow and
bright. We were brought into communication
with him frequently as a brother-editor, and always
found him genial and manly. At the time of his
death he was but fifty years of age and had been
in the ministry about thirty years. Although he
had been sick for some weeks, up and down with
fever, contracted during a western tour of Confer
ence visiting as agent of the Church, neither he nor
his friends supposed his end was so near. Death
came unexpectedly to all. Only a few moments
before he died, he seemed to catch a glimpse of the
open door through which he was to pass out from
this to the other world. He said in haste to his
wife, "Quick, quick," and drew her to him and
kissed her, and murmured indistinctly that there
was rest and soon after ceased to breathe. " He
rests from his labors and his works do follow him."
FROM THE CHRISTIAN CYNOSURE.
Our beloved brother Crooks is gone over the
silent river before us. We shall not attempt his
biography.
* ft H * *
Mr. Crooks took the helm. As was said of Gen.
Hamilton, "He touched the dead carcass of the
public credit and it stood up." He restored the
dilapidated business of the Book Room at Syra
cuse. The paper American Wesleyan became self-
sustaining. Without a particle of sectarian feel
ing, he aided in saving his denomination. H s
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 285
a true Now Testament bishop without either the
human prerogative or the name. He was almost
ready to commence the erection of a new National
Publishing House at Syracuse ; and there stood
around him godly and good men who are opposed
to the world s evils, and who, it is hoped and be
lieved will carry to completion his designs.
" Thou hast fallen in thy armor
Thou beloved of the Lord ;
With thy last breath crying Onward/
And thy hand upon the sword j
And we ll think of thee, brother,
In the trials yet to come,
In the shadow of the prison
Or in cruel martyrdom."
EXPRESSION OF THE CORRECTIONAL BOARDS ON THE
DEATH OF EEV. A. CROOKS.
In the course of temporal events, the afflictive
portion of which we could not control, we the vari
ous Connectioual Boards and Associations of the
Wcslcyan Methodist Connection of America are as
sembled. Under a deep sense of our obligation
to, and dependence upon the infinite wisdom of
Almighty God we would bow ourselves before the
dealings of his hand, and ask his divine strength to
be our portion through the severe trial which is
now upon us. By the painfully sad circumstance
of death, we miss to-day the presence, counsel and
encouragement of our dearly beloved Agent and
Treasurer, Rev. A. Crooks, and we cannot refrain
286 THE LIFE OP
from expressing, by these few words, some slight
sense of our great bereavement.
Taking charge of the Connectional finances as
he did at a time when there was scarce a dollar in
the treasury, and the means for further conducting
the publishing interests were alone in the hands of
a people who had everything to dishearten and dis
courage them, there seemed little to hope for, save
the deliverance of that God, who is able to subdue
his enemies, and bring strength out of weakness.
As the years passed on, the people learned that it
was safe to trust their new Agent. None feared
any alienation of their funds, or that their confi
dence would in any way be misplaced.
Since that time, many times ten thousand dollars
have been paid to him for the various Connectional
enterprises of our people, and twenty-two thou
sand dollars pledged toward a new Publishing
House. With the faithful, trustful spirit which
was characteristic of himself, the people have ral
lied to the support of the great principles of our
denomination, and beneath his financial and
Christian leadership, unexpected successes have
been attained.
His large experience and close observation, his
cool judgment and undaunted faith, made him a
valuable adviser, a true friend, and a safe and pru
dent manager of the Connectional finances entrust
ed to his care. Thousands of persons had submit
ted their individual cases to his careful advice, and
not less than thirty thousand people, within and
REY. ADAM CROOKS. 287
Outside of his denomination had known, loved and
trusted him.
But he is gone. His voice is hushed at the head
of the hosts of God s moral army. His toils are
passed, his work is done, and he has passed within
the sweet and hallowed quiet of his eternal rest.
He has left the companionship of his old friends
and associates, and left them to work on, without
the advantage of his experience, observation and
advice.
But we can not believe that any who are ground
ed in the faith of the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and who cling to the distinctive principles
of American Wesleyanism, but have such faith and
principles, not simply because our brother had faith
in them, but because they believe those principles
to be founded on justice and the eternal rock of
truth. And now that he has fallen in the harness
of the battle, at the head of the fearless band he
led, no true soldier of the Master will, we believe,
feel like falling back, or " bating one jot of heart
or hope." The Grand Captain of our salvation
still lives, and we believe will lead us on to victory.
Perhaps we were trusting too much in our dear
brother, and now the God of the armies of Heaven
and earth wishes to show us that He who can
thresh a mountain with a worm, can lead us to
success without any distinguished human agency.
When we have suffered the loss of leaders in
other times, our brethren remaining have rallied to
duty as never before ; and now, perhaps, it remains
288 THE LIFE OP
that all our " Churches shall be set on fire of G-od"
in seeking to work up to the high point of the per
sonal Christian experience which was lived and
taught by our devoted brother.
We can but pause in sorrow to drop our tears
of grief above the dust of our departed leader.
But for the sake of the perishing souls for whom
he labored, and Christ died, we will arise, and with
hearts undismayed, press forward to duty to the
end of our days. And we would exhort brethren
everywhere to rally to the high responsibilities
resting upon them. Let there be no sluggards
now. And if every one will " look beyond the
watchman" to the God of the armies of Israel, we
may see such a forward movement as never occur
red even in his own day. And it may come to
pass that he who slew his thousands in his life
time, may slay his tens of thousands by the influ
ence of his own death. God is our leader, in him
will we trust, PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE
BOARDS.
The following tracts are among the last of Mr.
Crooks writings. It is thought advisable to give
them this form, in order that their circulation may
be extended, and their influence widened ; and that
they may be preserved to bless those who read&gt; for
years to come.
COUNSEL TO CONVERTS.
The most memorable epoch in the soul s history is the
time of its espousals to Christ. From that moment there
is a vitalizing and falicitating union between it and the
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 289
Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to find its high and holy
complement amid the measureless ages of immortality.
But in spiritual laws and habits it is but an infant almost
witnout experience and without knowledge. To begin
right and to grow and develop in the spiritual in eternal
life, is of unspeakable importance. Hence please read, with
fervent, prayer, these earnest words of counsel.
1. Be certain beyond the- possibility of mistake as to the
fact of conversion. Do not rest in the judgments of oth
ers. Know for yourself. Do not settle down satisfied
while there is a lingering shadow of doubt. The matter
is too important to allow of doubts. Be sure your experi
ence is scriptural. Here are some scriptural evidences.
Peace with God. The Apostle says, " Therefore being jus
tified by faith, we have peace with God." This peace
consists in a sweet tranquility of soul arising from pardon
and conscious reconciliation. God has pardoned us, and
we are reconciled to him are al-one with him all an
tagonism has ceased. Love of Christians, is another evi
dence. " By this we know we have passed from death unto
life, because we love the brethren." This is much more
than a mere respect for Christians. Most persons have
this. But it is a knitting of soul with soul an instinctive
drawing to Christians, as a part of ourselves, or as belong
ing to the same family a secret, but strong spiritual affini
ty. New interest in, and better understanding of the
Bible, resulting from having the eyes of the understanding
opened, is another evidence. Love of enemies conscious
communion with God minding spiritual things having
keen spiritual appetite and relish are all evidences of con
version. But though scriptural and valid, yet these are
all inferential. We have peace with God ; love the breth
ren ; love our enemies, &c. &c., therefore we are convert
ed. But there is a higher evidence, There is the direct
witness of the Spirit. We may argue that because we
see, and hear, and love and hate, and enjoy, and suffer
&c., that therefore we exist; that it is conclusive. But
13
290 THE LIFE OF
aside from all this, there is a consciousness of existence.
So too, aside from all inferential evidence, there may be a
direct consciousness of spiritual life. This is the witness of
the Holy Spirit. Let no convert stop short of this highest
evidence. It is of infinite importance to begin right that
the conversion is both genuine and thorough.
2. Bear every cross. This is a fundamental condition of
discipleship. At the very outset of your Christian career
settle it well to shun no cross, however heavy. Every
time the cross is borne there will be an increase of strength
with conscious Divine approval. Every time you bear the
cross you will learn more and more, that at least one half
of it is borne by the Savior. When lifted, it is not so pon
derous as it had seemed ; and every successive time it is
lighter than the preceding. On the other hard, when
shunned, the cross grows heavier and heavier, until there is
neither strength nor fortitude to take it up. As one has
beautifully said, ** The cross is like the wings of a bird-
The bird must bear its wings, and then the wings bear the
bird." You will find this to be eminently true. Then, from
the first, be cross-bearing Christians. There are none
others.
1 Bold to take up, and firm to sustain
The consecrated cross."
3. Be zealous workers. The Churches have too many
drones already. You are wanted for no such purpose.
Just in proportion as you are a blessing to the Church will
the Church be a blessing to you. The Church and world
are filled with backsliders, because filled with idlers. By
all means find something to do for Jesus. Seek to be use
ful. Be earnest workers. Your alternative is work or die!
By all means let these words characterize you truly
" Zealous of good work." The command of the Master to
each and to all is, " Go work to-day in my vineyard. 7 Be
strict in your obedience to this Divine command ; and
"ready to every good word and work." Do something
for Jesus each day, and not only will you not backslide,
REV. ADAM CROOKS- 291
but you will be a healthy, happy, useful, growing Christian.
We repeat it The one alternative is Work or die.
Action is a law of spiritual, no less than of natural life and
development. It is palpable that in the absence of life
there can be no intelligent, well-directed, effective and
remunerative action. And it is equally true that in the ab
sence of such action there can be no healthful, growing,
happy, vigorous, spiritual life. In such case, there may
be the form without the power the body without the soul ;
the shadow without the substance, the corpse without the
shroud and coffin ; but little more is possible. You do not
wish to belong to an army of corpses, an assemblage of
skeletons, a valley of dry bones;" or even disciplined
infants, invalids, dyspeptics and dwarfs. What miserable
substitutes these, for spiritual athletes and giants! Not
enough that a mere tithe of the professed soldiers of Christ,
are pressing the battle with the vigor of desperation
Twere madness to even hope for brilliant achievement
until the whole army comes into such determined action.
"The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the vio
lent take it by force." Among the Lacedemonians, every
citizen was a soldier. So let it be with you. Let every
man, woman and child professing to love the Lord Jesus,
" come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord
against the mighty."
4. Be scrupulously conscientious. " Shun all appear
ance of evil." Never give the devil the benefit of your
doubt. Never allow large margin between sin and holi
ness. Draw the lines sharply and distinctly. Never be
found ia proximity with Satan s territory. Make the dis
tance between you and it as great as possible. For every
temptation have a prompt and emphatic No ! Thoughts of
evil, when indulged, instantly become evil thoughts. These
are the only doors through which the devil can gain en
trance into the heart, As you regard the life and liberty
of your souls, keep these doors well bolted, and you are
comparatively safe. But without this there absolutely can
292 THE LIFE OF
be no safety. * Lust, when it hath conceived, bringeth
forth sin; 71 and " the wages of sin is death." Avoid every
wrong. Practice every right. Do every duty. Be strict
ly, scrupulously, uniformly conscientious. Keep your con
science as the apple of the eye of your soul. Prefer death
to sin.
" What conscience dictates to be done
Or warns me not to do ;
This teaches more than hell to shun,
That more than heaven to pursue."
5. Too much account cannot be made of prayer. " Pray
without ceasing." " Instant in prayer," ready for it at all
times. "Praying all prayer and supplication in the Spir
it." For everything we need. " Pray everywhere 7 in
secret in family in social and business walks in the
great congregation. " Lifting up holy hands without wrath
and doubting." No sin in the hand no wrath in the mind
no doubting in the heart. Emphatically, the Christian life
is one of prayer.
"Prayer is the Christian s vital breath ;
The Christian s native air,
His watch-word at the ates of death,
He enters heaven with prayer."
" But pray with faith in Jesus name."
Just as well hope to live physically without breathing, as
to live spiritually without praying. Prayer exhales sin,
and inhales holiness exhales the human, and inhales the
divine exhales self and inhales God ! To cease to pray is
to cease to live.
6. Study the Bible much, and make it your guide. Read
good books ; counsel with Christians ; give good heed to
preaching ; but allow none of these, nor all of them togeth
er, the place of the Bible. Make the Bible alone, the
ultimate rule of faith and practice. Young converts often
select out eminent Christians as their patterns, thinking if
only as good as these, that is all they could hope. But
even a Paul could only say, " follow me as T follow Christ."
Christ is the only perfect model, and the Bible the only sure
REV. ADAM CROOKS, 293
guide. A neglected Bible neglected closet, and a neglected
Christ, is salvation neglected.
7. Seek to be useful. There are a thousand ways in
which to do good. Reckon that day as lost which records
no good accomplished no word of caution, reproof, or
comfort spoken no deed of charity done no look of pity
ing kindness given. So taught even Pythagorus, a heathen
philosopher. Let the sun go down upon no such day of
your life. Do not be mere absorbents mere receptives of
good ; but give out good in return. " Freely ye have re
ceived ; freely give." Let heart, and hand, and feet, and
tongue, and eyes be avenues for the out-flow of good to
others. Seek to be eminently wise and good, that you may
be thus eminently useful. And be ready for any errand of
mercy, any post of service that Heaven may appoint. Shine
like the sun ; not for yourself, but for others. But shine !
Make mountain and valley lustrous with the light of intelli
gent Christian example. If others are indifferent, or walk
in darkness, let not the fault lie at your door.
8. Be punctual in the observance of all the means of
grace, private and public. These are your spiritual meals,
and regularity is essential to spiritual health and growth.
Never suffer business nor any earthly interest to encroach
upon these.
9. Be select of your companions. Not that they must
be of the rich and cultured; but they that belong to the
royal family of Heaven. And not merely nominal, world
ly, unspiritual, and lukewarm formalists ; but those who
live nearest the summit of the mount of heavenly commun
ion. And read none but the best of books. Select your
companions from among the spiritual giants and Princes of
the House of Israel.
10. Do not be too much the subject of mere emotions.
Not evanescent emotions, but fixed principles ; not delight-
but duty ; not greatness, but goodness ; not happiness, but
holiness ; not rapture, but running ; not words, but wis
dom ; not lust, but love ; not glory, but God? Too many
294 THE LIFE OP
mistake here. Be sure you do not. It leads either to sen-
suosity in religion, or otherwise to measuring our grace by
the false rule of mere feeling. Shun this rock.
11. Studiously avoid spiritual pride. " Esteeming others
better than yourselves." As above, goodness, not great
ness. Rejoice in the successes of others. Let there be no
bitter jealousies, envying, strife, or evil speaking. The
largest corn and fattest pastures are found in the valleys.
So do Christian graces grow best in the valley of true hu
mility.
12. From the first, learn to be liberal. &lt;k The liberal
soul shall be made fat. 17 " The Lord loveth a cheerful
giver." As Wesley taught Get all you can honestly of
course ; save all you can ; give all you can. Get and save
not to hoard; but that you may have wherewith to give,
Just as well talk of a sober sot, as of a stingy Christian.
13. Never rest satisfied in present attainments. But,
taking the Apostle s rule, forgetting things behind, and
reaching to those before, press toward the mark, for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. High
er ! and still higher ! !
Do these things, and thou shalt not only save thyself,
but also many others,
PLEA FOR HOLINESS.
Holiness is personal purity. It combines the two con
ditions of the absence of all that is wrong, and the pre
sence of all that is right complete death to sin and life
to righteousness. It is pre-eminent personal. Separate
*rom the individual, there can be no holiness. It does not
consist in externalities, nor yet in mere emotions, but in a
fixed state of the heart. Upon both of these points there has
been vast confusion. Implanted in the heart, it finds cer
tain development in the life. Its highest statement is lov
ing God with all the heart, soul, mind and strength, and
loving our neighbor, (friend or foe,) as ourself. Not that
we are to approve either the character or conduct of our
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 295
foes. God does not approbate his enemies. But we must
have for them no malignity nothing contrary to good-will.
But perforce of an eternal law of our being, to thus love
God we must be like him. We must be " created anew
after the image of God in righteousness and true holiness."
For " like loves its like." But the object of these lines is a
plea for holiness.
1. God commands it. His language is plain, pointed,
and positive. " Be ye holy ; for I the Lord your God am
holy." This of itself is sufficient. When God commands,
let angels and men obey. Holiness is the supreme law of
the Moral Universe. If we would no^t be in vital antago
nism with this great law, let us be holy.
2. Sin is essentially hateful and wrong; is hateful because
wrong. For this reason God hates it with a perfect hatred.
If he did not hate it with all the powers of his being he
would be a sinner. Then, as we would not give place in
our heart to that which is thus hateful in the eyes of God
and of all sinless beings, let us be holy.
3. Sin is essentially subversive of the Divine Govern
ment. But this government is an infinite good, and its
overthrow would be an infinite calamity. Who can fully
estimate the magnitude of the consequences of the destruc
tion of God s government. Surely none but God himself.
Then if we would not allow that which would be thus disas-
terous to God and his boundless universe to attach to our
deathless nature, let us be holy. Let us antagonize sin as
we ought.
4. But again : Sin shuts us away from communion with
God. Out of fellowship with God and all the good. Aye
more ; in desperate warfare with all these : who can
abide the thought! Yet sin imooses and eternalizes this
dreadful necessity. Yet holiness is the only door of escape
from this direful calamity. To the account of sin is to be
put down unmeasured evil, and to the account of holiness
unmeasured good. Then by all this double possibility of
geod and evil, are we called to an existence of ceaseless
29 6- THE LIFE OF
holiness. Shall we hold ourselves proof against such mo
tives as these ? If not, let us be holy.
5. If we would bear a resemblance of God and all the
good of the universe, we must be holy.
6. If our relationship to God and the virtuous of all
worlds would be friendly, we must be holy.
7. If we would not be in identification with all the abom
inable of all worlds, we must be holy.
8. Without holiness, all our prayers and acts of worship
must be without avail. Holiness is a condition fundamen
tal to acceptable worship. If we regard iniquity in our
heart any iniquity the Lord will not hear us.
9. Holiness is the life-principle of every form of virtue.
Hence, in its absence, even these forms will eventually
decompose and disappear.
10. By a powerful law of our being, we assimilate to those
whom we venerate and love. The loving child becomes
like his parent, and the admiring pupil like his preceptor.
Love and admiration of the Divine Being are essential ele
ments of holiness. Hence, by virtue of this law, holy moral
agents become more and more holy : or more and more
like God. Hence, too, the language of the great Apostle
"But we pll with open face beholdirg as in a glass the
glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from
glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." Hence,
also, the "Beloved Disciple" " We know that when he
. shall appear, we shall be like him ; for we shall see him a
be is." How distinct and marked this resemblance shall
become by virtue of the operations of this law during an
endless eternity, may not be thought nor told ; but if holy,
it shall stamp our eternal experience. And is it unreason
able to suppose that perforce of a law of like potency, the
unholy and unhappy lost will wax worse and worse during
eternal ages? All these trtmtrdous results concenter up
on the sirgle condition of being holy. Then, how shall
it be? Shall we spend our eternity in rising higher and
higher in every moral excellence; approximating nearer-
ADAM CROOKS. 297
and nearer the exact image of the Divine ; or shall it be
spent in sinking deeper and still deeper into unmeasured
depths of moral deformity and obliquy? Reader: This
tremendous question confronts your soul at each succes
sive moment for decision. Oh, let it be made now in such
manner as all the facts of time and eternity shall approve !
11. As sin is the greatest possible evil to moral agents,
so is holiness the greatest possible good. Holiness alone
can adjust our being in self-harmony, as in harmony with
God, his law, and plans, and purposes, and the administra
tion of the affairs of his boundless empire. Holiness ren
ders all the infinite resources of Jehovah, and all the mighty
forces at his command, tributary to the highest good of its
possessor. Sin sets all these infinite resources and mighty
forces at war upon the interests of its guilty perpetrator.
Every where, all over the Divine nature and administration,
may be seen written in emblazoned characters " WITH
OUT HOLINESS NONE SHALL SEE THE LORD."
And now, dear reader : What is your attitude to these
over-mastering truths ? Are the infinite resources of Je
hovah, with all the mighty forces of the universe at work
for your highest good ; or are their concerted activities
effectuating your utmost ruin for time and eternity? The
answer depends upon your relation to holiness. What is
that relation ? What shall it be? Can the fleeting pleas
ures of sin compensate the soul s eternal undoing ? Surely
not. Then, by all its priceless interests determine to be
holy from this very hour. Let the decision render the
memory of the hour precious and hallowed amid the peer
less glories of the palace of God !
12. But in its far-reaching influences this subject is not
limited to the individual moral agent. For, as it is written,
" No man liveth unto himself." In the immediate and
sundry relations of husband, wife, parent, child, brother,
sister, friend, &c., &c., our character must affect for weal
or for woe, the character and destiny of many others. Nor
is this tidal- wave of contagion, holy or sinful confined to
13*
298 THE LIFE OF
the immediate circle of relatives, friends and cotempora"
ries ; but with the ceaseless flow of time sweeps on to bless
or blast countless thousands : may be millions ! Thus
has the guilty taint of the sinning pair in Eden infected
their countless, progeny. So, in like manner, the blessed
influence of the good is unconfined and undying. Shall we
commit sad havoc among immortal souls until God s angel
shall strike the knell of time? The subject is unspeaka
bly awful And were it possible, the pleadings and pro
tests of unborn millions might well be in favor of the
holiness of all now living. But in this they are wholly de-
enseless. Then let us make their cause our own, and for
their sakes as well as our own ; and as we would not, in the
form of our influence, be guilty of committing soul-mur
der during all time, let us be holy.
13. Our final plea is made in the name of our adorable
Savior. His mission to earth finds final culmination in
man s holiness and happiness. Therefore, by his incarna
tion, poverty, passion, illustrious example, betrayal and
denial, cruel mockings and scourgings, boundless sufferings
and agonizing cry upon the cross ; by his death, burial, re
surrection, ascension and intercessions ; by the gift of the
Spirit, establishment of his Church and institution of his min
istry ; by all of these, as in one united call, are we impor
tuned to be holy. If we are holy, we come into the rightful
possession of all the blessed benefits of the atonement,
both for time and eternity. But if not holy, the blood of
atonement will cry for vengeance, as the guilt of all other
sins combined cannot cry. This is the pivotal point upon
which all turns. If holy, the atonement becomes to us
the source of peerless blessings ; but if not holy, the blood
of the Son of God shed for our redemption thunders for
our eternal undoing. Reader : How shall it be ? Shall
God s munificent expenditures for our salvation, be so per
verted by our own act, as to deepen our eternal damnation ?
Awful thought! Shall we thus at once abuse God s bound
less love, dash beyond the limits of recovery, the bliss of
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 299
heaven, and plunge our souls beneath the fiercest waves of
endless woe ? If not, we must be holy.
The foregoing considerations appeal alike to all ; but
super-added to these are others which apply exclusively to
Christians. Here are some of them.
1. If you would have power with God and man for
good, you must be holy.
2. If you would not mar and scar the beauty and symme
try of the Church of God, and blight the healthy growth in
grace in those with whom you are in holiest fellowship, you
must be holy.
3. If you would not hold out false lights, and guide an
already perishing world against the ruinouskrocks of sin ;
if for the saving salt of holiness you would not give the
world the fatal virus of sin, you must be holy.
4. If you would not be a false witness against Christ,
and bring his matchless cause into disrepute with mankind,
you must be holy. To be intrusted with the honor and
reputation of Jesus, involves a fearful responsibility. If
you would not basely betray this holy trust confided, you
must be holy.
5. The Church is the conservator of the nations, and of
the world. It is the salt of the earth, and the light of the
woild. If it does not sufficiently possess the conserving
and saving properties, the nations must relapse into barbar
ism, moral rottenness and ruin. Here again are involved
fearful responsibilities ; and to fully respond to these, you
must be holy.
Finally : If you would not transmit to coming genera
tions a type of Christianity that will blast, blacken, and
ruin souls, instead of blessing and saving them, you must
be holy.
Thus, if you would be true to your own interests, and
the interests of God, and of all others for tims.and eter
nity, you must be holy.
What do you say? What is your answer? Decide this
great question now. This instant. Upon your knees be-
300 THE LIFE OF
fore God ! Will you now make a perfect offering of time,
talent, ease, pleasure, property, reputation, friends, and if
need so require, life itself? Will you keep tbis offering
upon the altar forever % And making this offering a per
petual act, do you now take Jesus Christ as a Savior from
all sin ? WILL YOU BE HOLY ?
May the great God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost help
you! Amen.
PROCESSES OF SALVATION.
Salvation, in a gospel sense, means complete deliverance
from sin, and thereby deliverance from its consequences,
and the eternftl exaltation of the soul and body to all pos
sible perfectability and blessedness in heaven. The theme
of salvation is the greatest of all themes. And the work of
salvation is the greatest of all works. And although the en
tire work is expressed by the one word salvation ; yet it
has its processes. Concerning some of these processes,
vast confusion exists even in the minds of many Christians.
Well-defined views upon this subject are of very great im
portance. Hence we would dissipate this confusion, and
make each point as plain as possible.
The first step we name is conviction. This is a com
plex state, implying a knowledge of God and his law, with
a pungent sense of guilt or of ill-desert because of the vio
lation of this law. Now conscience is thoroughly awake
and at work. And although tbis state may be wholly in
voluntary and even against the will, and therefore posses
ses no moral character, it is yet indispensable to salvation j
for without it no one will seek salvation.
The second preliminary step in this process is penitence.
By this we mean sincere sorrow over our past sins. Now
sin begins to be seen and regarded in its true light, as ex
ceedingly offensive to Gcd, and detrimental to every inter
est of man, both for time and eternity. Now we begin in
earnest to deplore our sinful state. The direct tendency
of this sorrow is to produce repentance. Hence says the
&EV. ADASf CROOKS. 301
Apostle, " Godly sorrow worketh repentance." Not
enough that we are deeply convicted ; not enough that the
soul is sorrowful because of sins committed. All this may
be, and yet we persistently refuse to cease our sinning.
Another step must be taken viz : repentance. Genuine
repentance consists in a present and complete abandon
ment of all known sin, together with a determined struggle
for deliverance therefrom. Mark ! Not a purpose to aban
don sin after-while nor yet to abandon some sins and con
tinue to cling to others ; neither to abandon them for any
limited period. But this abandonment, in purpose at least,
must be present, complete, and perpetual, The surrender
must be unconditional. The purposed obedience must be
absolute and unqualified, at any and every cost, be it life
itself, otherwise our repentance is a sham and a mockery.
It is to be greatly feared that in these times of shams and
superficialities, the repentance of too many is only in the
seemings. Reader ! Has yours been genuine and thorough ?
If you would have your conversion genuine, your repentance
must be thorough.
Repentance prepares the way for justification, or par
don. The soul may now be said to be in moral attitude to
be forgiven. Not that repentance is in the least degree
meritorious. For while it is fitting and indispensable, it
yet in no sense, nor to any extent, merits pardon. The
meritorious cause of our justification inheres exclusively
in the complete atonement made by the sufferings and
death of our Lord Jesus Christ; he having " by the grace
of God, tasted death for every man." As the poet sings :
" Jesus paid it all
All the debt I owe."
Hence, " God can be just and the justifier of him that be-
lieveth in Jesus." And hence again, the moment we cease
our agonizing efforts to make ourselves better, or to free
ourselves from guilt, and trust for salvation simply and con
fidingly in " the redemption which is in Christ Jesus," that
very moment all our sins will be freely forgiven, and we
302 THE LIFE OP
shall stand justified before God as really and as fully as if
we had never sinned. This act of pardon is at once in
stantaneous and complete. And now becomes apropos the
simple and beautifully expressive language of the great
Apostle, " Therefore being justified by faith, we have
peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." And
with speechless rapture we can sing
" My God is reconciled ;
His pard ning voice I hear ;
He owns me for his child,
I can no longer fear."
Coetaneous with pardon, and its invariable attendant, is
regeneration. When freely pardoned by the Father, through
the Son, we are, the same instant, regenerated by the Holy
Ghost, adopted into the heavenly family, and receive the
Spirit of adoption, " crying Father, Father." This work
is instantaneous ; done in a moment, in the twinkling of an
eye. As regeneration is the unvarying concomitant or
accompaniment of justification or pardon, theologians fre
quently employ the terms, justification and regeneration
interchangably, as designating the same state. The Scrip
tures characterize it being bora again created anew in
Christ Jesus the love of God shed abroad in the heart
by the Holy Ghost, and like forceful language. In all
these processes the Holy Ghost has been active. In pro
ducing conviction, contrition, repentance, inspiring the
faith which trusts only in Christ for pardon ; for " no man
can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost"
active also in creating the heart anew, and then in witness
ing to its own blessed work.
We would award to the justified or regenerate state all
that the Scriptures authorize. In this state there exist
all the Christian graces. The current of our being is
reversed. Love is the soul s ruling impulse, and obedience
is not only possible, but also delightful. A growth in the
Christian graces is also possible ; and indeed if justification
is retained there must be this growth. At the moment the
KEY. ADAM CROOKS. 303
soul is regenerated it is conscious of nothing averse to love.
It bears the image of Christ. In some sense, God is loved
with all the heart the heart is pure sanctified free from
sin, in the sense of voluntary transgression communes
with God, and has an assurance of a title to heaven.
These things being conceded, many erroneously teach
that beyond what is known as justification and regeneration,
nothing is either necessary or possible. Then what are the
facts? What is truth concerning this most important sub
ject? We conceive it to be as follows :
1. Although at the time of regeneration the soul is un
conscious of anything averse to the reign of love, yet in
after experience and while enjoying a sense of the Divine
favor, it becomes clearly conscious of the presence of
appetites, passions, propensities, impulses, dispositions
and tempers, unfriendly to the unqualified reign of our
only Lord and Savior, and to yield to which is sin. Not
that these are sin; but if allowed to become active or rul
ing, they develop into sin.
2. These propensities, impulses, &c., are traceable to
and consequent upon the fall. But for the fall they would,
with us, have no existence.
3. These adverse impulsions are not produced by voli
tions, but are back of and beneath the will, and ever and
anon act upon it. They are interior fountains, deep within
the citadel of the soul, ever ready to spring up and pour out
their murky contents. And coming as they do within the
field of consciousness, their presence cannot be denied.
Hence they are distinctly noted by all trust-worthy theolo
gians, as Wesley, Watson, Clarke, Cook, Fletcher, Finney,
Buck, Dwight, Hill, Helffenstein, Lee, Foster, Dempster]
&c. The Presbyterian Confession of Faith not only makes
note of the presence of these tendencies to sin in the re
generate heart, but teaches also that they cannot be com
pletely extirpated in this life. And all these authorities
admit that when regenerated, the soul is, iu a modified
sense, pure and sanctified ; but not that it is wholly pure
aud sanctified.
304 THE LIFE OF
As Finney, Lee, and others clearly teach, existing in the
sensibilities as mere passive states, they are not sin in tJie
sense of transgression, But (1.) To yield to them even in
intention or by consent, in the absense of the opportunity
to yield in the overt act, is sin. (2.) Being adverse of
the Cross of Christ, and to his unqualified reign in and
over the soul, it is his prerogative to cast them out. (3.)
To make truce with them so far as to consent to their con
tinued presence, while knowing that they may be cast out,
is sin. In such case their very presence involves moral
culpability. To make truce with the foes of Christ in any
form, is criminally sinful. Hence relentless warfare upon
those impulsions, is fundamentally necessary to continued
justification. (4.) That these tendencies to sin are not
cast out by regeneration is self-manifest, from the fact that
usually, if not universally, they exist in the heart after it
has been regenerated. (5.) Since mere regeneration, (be
ing born again,) does not cast out these internal foes,
their extirpation must, in this sense, and on this account,
be a distinct work. This is as plain as that two and two
equal four, or that a circle, square and triangle are not the
same. And as sanctification begins with regeneration, the
extirpation of those impulsions and attendant baptism of
the Holy Ghost, may on this account be called the con
tinuance of the same work. It is the completion of a work
begun in regeneration. Hence contention over the ques
tion whether it is a distinct work or only the same work
continued to completion, is not wise ; being more specu
lative than practical, and hence is styled by Mr. Wesley
a "war of words;" and it may serve to divert attention
from the great and vital work of having our internal foes
extirpated, and the occupancy of the whole territory of
the soul by the pure love of Christ. Being a distinct
work, it very properly has a distinct designation. And
being the completion of a work commenced in regenera
tion, it is very properly designated entire sanctification.
That this designation is in consonance with the teaching
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 305
of Inspiration, as well as in accord with experience, is
apparent in the light of the following with other passages of
Holy Writ.
"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let
us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. vii : 1.
This passage clearly assumes (1.) That the Christians
addressed may not have been cleansed from all filthiness
of flesh and spirit. For why exhort to the doing of a
work already completed? (2.) That there is such thing as
an imperfect state of holiness ; otherwise there could be
no such process as " perfecting- holiness."
" And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly ; and I
pray God that your whole spirit and soul and body be
preserved blameless, unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ." 2 Thess. v: 23. As Dr. Lee well says "This
text supposes that sanctification in part without being en
tirely sanctified, is a possible condition ; for it would be
absurd to pray to be sanctified wholly, if there is no such
thing as being sanctified in part without being wholly sanc
tified."
The foregoing truths furnish large margin for variety in
the experience of Christians. Here is a soul regenerated ;
but on the one hand neglecting to cultivate the good, and
on the other to suppress its tendencies to sin, hence apos
tatizes. A sad experience this, which fills the land with
backsliders. Here is another with whom the warfare be
tween the good infused, and the tendencies to sin not yet
extirpated, is almost equal. He alternates between light
and darkness, justification and condemnation, sinning and
repenting. But little, if any, real progress is made. Alas,
that this should be the exact experience of so many !
Still another, not knowing his right to full gospel free
dom, seeks no greater victory than to control his tendencies
to sin anger, pride, envy, jealously, Jove of the world,
&c. ; yet holding the evil in constant restraint it becomes
less potent, while the good, carefully cultured, grows and
306 THE LIFE OP
strengthens. Here is steady progress ; but not complete
victory. Stoutly denying the possibility of complete deliv
erance in this life, the measure of exparience, and the
contest with its internal foes is ended only " down at the
river." A fourth gains successive victories over these inter
nal foes ; and receives new baptisms of the Holy Ghost,
just as those foes come conspicuously within the field of
the soul s consciousness. Each successive victory is com
plete in kind, but limited in extent. Impulsions adverse
to spiritual life and growth, in ambush, still tenant the
heart, until the last one is brought to view and cast out ;
each successive victory being attended with deeper and
still deeper baptisms of the Holy Ghost, until the work of
entire sanctification is completed. Dr. Lee styles this,
gradual or progressive sanctification. But a fifth surveys
the whole field of the soul s wants at one searching and
appalling view. And oh, how appalling ! He sees and feels
the mighty work to be done ; and is as clearly and deeply
convicted of the necessity of a clean heart, as formerly o*
the necessity of pardon. In the strength of Divine grace
the resolution if formed. The single sentiment of " Victory
or Death" permeates every part and power of the deathless
spirit, now stirred to its uttermost profound. The life-and-
death struggle is terrible. For these internal foes die
hard. Consecration of the entire being deeper, broader,
higher than ever before reached, is now made; taking
houses, lands, time, talent, reputation, friends, wife, child
ren, life ; everything. Faith in Christ as a perfect Sivior
and all-conquering Captain, measures up to the full de
mands of the occasion, and trusts him for complete deliv
erance from these tendencies to sin just as fully as it trust
ed him for pardon ; and in a moment the mighty work is
wrought! Self dies, that Christ may hold undisputed sway
over the entire empire of the soul, Now ensue unutterable
joy the perfect Rest of Faith a life of light and love
the sweet tranquility of heaven.
Now, why admit the reality of the first four experiences
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 307
above delineated, and deny the fifth, which is indefinitely
the most glorbus, and is attested by the open profession
and holy lives of such shining names as Messrs. Fletcher,
Bramwell, Carvosso, Nelson, Mrs. Hester Ann Rogers,
Mrs. Fletcher, Lady Maxwell, and a host of others, God s
noble men and women who testify that " the blood of Jesus
Christ his Son, cleanseth from all sin ? "
Reader! Does your name, of right, belong to this list?
What does conscience answer? Shall it be there?
Between the extremes above indicated is margin for many
shades of experience; and this variety in experience gives
origin to variety in theories. We are now prepared to note
some points of difference between the states of regeneration
and entire sanctification. These are marked and well-de
fined.
1. The convictions preceding those states are different.
Sinners are convicted of sin, guilt, and of the need of par
don and reconciliation. The regenerate are convicted of
internal tendencies to sin, in the form of passions, propen
sities, tempers and dispositions, and are deeply conscious
that continued justification and the favor of Heaven, are
conditioned upon their extirpation. Of course this con
sciousness does not attach to those who do not apprehend
the possibility of complete deliverance, in this life, from
these impulsions to sin.
2. There is difference in the consecrations made. In the
case of the repentant sinner, it is usually less or more con
fused, vague and limited; owing to abounding spiritual
darkness. In the case of the soul intelligently seeking full
redemption, the consecration is clear, well-defined, deep,
broad, high, and all-comprehending,
3. There is a difference in the blessings sought. The
repentant sinner seeks, believes for, and experiences par
don and reconciliation. Beyond this, the knowledge of his
needs does not extend. The regenerate seek, believe for,
and experience complete deliverance from the foes lurking
within, with the attendant baptism of the Holy Ghost. One
308 THE LIFE OF
apprehends and trusts in Christ as a Savior from the guilt
and dreadful consequences of sin. The other apprehends
and trusts in Christ as the complete deliverer from all
indwelling tendencies to revolt and rebellion.
4. Hence there is a difference in those states themselves.
With the regenerate, the tendencies to sin are only con
trolled. With the entirely sanctified they are extirpated.
With the regenerate, there are deep under- currents of the
soul averse to a life of entire consecration impulsions
clamoring for both existence and indulgence. In the wholly
sanctified, all those deep under-currents are friendly and
helpful to a life of unqualified holiness. So that, so far
as internal foes are concerned, the empire of the soul is left
in peace.
5. Hence again : there is marked difference in the temp
tations of the two states. With the regenerate or partially
sanctified, many of their temptations are from within, while
with the wholly sanctified, they are from without. The re
generate are conscious of something within, in sympathy
with suggested evil ; while with the wholly sanctified, there
is no such sympathy, but positive and intense antagonism
to all known sin. The regenerate are often tempted di
rectly to sin ; whereas the wholly sanctified seldom are.
With these, Satan, coming in the guise of an angel of light,
operates upon and through something in itself innocent, or
it may be morally excellent ; to secure an illegitimate use
of these. As in the case of Eve, her desire for food, or
wish to be wise. Or in the case of Jesus his hunger ;
or his perceived faith in Divine Providence, to cast him
self from the pinacle of the temple ; or of his dread for
terrible sufferings, as in the garden of " strong crying and
tears." Sometimes be seeks to take advantage of the holi
est sentiments of the soul, and mis-lead and mis-direct,
for example, our tender regard for the honor of God, and
the success of his cause. On the one hand, he may seek
to hold us back we must have our faith to ourselves must
be prudently zealous we must not be too forward, or we
will be thought officious, and our power to do good thus
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 309
be destroyed, or on the other hand, he may urge us too
fast and too far; and thus beguile into fanaticism; or as in
the case of Paul, he may send a " messenger of Satan to
buffet us 1 a brother, or sister, or wife, or husband, or
pastor, or private church-member, or sinners. But per
haps the master device of Satan in this regard, is to lead
us, all undiscovered, to the excessive indulgence of that
which, in itself, is innocent; such as love of husband, wife,
children, reputation, or appetite, or native impulsions, in
themselves entirely legitimate. At this point especially,
there is necessity for eternal vigilance. Thus in a thou
sand ways Satan may buffet, annoy and embarrass those
who are wholly sanctified. It is well to be wise, and know
" The depths of Satan."
And just here it is in place to guard our readers against
fatal mistakes. And,
1. Be slow to make your own experience the primal test
of truth, respecting this great subject. Especially do not
say "When first converted, I was more happy, and loved
more than at any period since ; therefore there is no such
thing as progress in the experience of salvation." Is not
such an experience sadly defective ? What meaneth the
parable of the one, two, and five talents ? The Scriptures
and all nature, alike teach the doctrine of progress.
2. Do not mistake mere regeneration for entire sanctifi-
cation. It may well be feared that there are those in the
Church who are destitute of the grace of Christ; and,
deeply conscious of the immense vr.cuum in their souls,
come to Jesus humbly and devoutly, and being greatly
blessed, assume that they are wholly sanctified, while they
have received no^Ying beyond justification; a blessing of
which, up to this time, they were destitute.
3. Bo particular not to mistake partial for complete sanc-
tif; ation. Be not deceived. Be thorough. Go to the very
bottom in this experience. Leave no ground to doubt that
either the consecration or the faith is complete.
4. With the utmost care guard against every species of
310 THE LIFE OP
fanaticism. Satan is just as well pleased to push us a little
too far as to have us Jail below privilege and duty.
Hence, some believe themselves so much beyond where
the Savior was, that they cannot be tempted. Others
again think themselves so much in advance of the inspired
Apostle, who said " we know but in part, and prophesy
but in pait, that they are away above mistake have no
need of the Scriptures; being in all things led by the
Holy Ghost. And still others separate themselves from
those dear children of God who kavs been only regenera
ted, and fellowship those only who are wholly sanctified ;
and thus produce schism in the body of Christ. By these
and other devices, Satan succeeds in distracting the Church,
and bringing the blessed doctrine of holiness into disrepute,
ai-u ven ridicule. But of course it is no valid objection
to a doctrine-, that it can be perverted.
o. Too many, having professed entire sanctification cease
their e orts for progress ; forgetting that there is a funda
mental difference between purity and maturity. By all
means, and with all possible assiduity, avoid this error.
The sanctified soul is only in good position for bolder
flights into the measureless beyond. When fields are
cleared of all wild-growth, we expect the grains to grow
the faster, and the gathered harvests to be the richer.
But in neglected fields, the enemy will sow tares. Present
grace can be retained only by getting more. Neglected
conformity to this fundamental principle in the economy of
grace accounts for the sad fact that so few who profess en
tire sanctification succeed in retaining it. The honor of
God and salvation of souls demand that this ruinous evil
be remedied. When the demand of the age is spiritual
athletes, shall we supply it with an army of infants ? This
must not be. But we proceed.
Distinct from the baptism of purity, is the baptism of
power. The promises are distinct, and so are the bless
ings. How much the whole Church needs this mighty bap
tism ! How her hallowed interests lie in waste from its
REV. ADAM CROOKS. 311
want. How considerations weighty as the worth of souls
and measureless as eternity, with voices, plaintive as the
pleadings of Heaven s own pity, invoke the Church to a
universal and perpetual Pentecost! Only this can make
her " fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an
army with banners."
But still beyond, is the sealing of tlie Holy Spirit. As,
in this life, the sinner can overleap the bounds of possible
return to God, so this sealing " unto the day of redemp
tion" make its possessor, quite as certain of the boundless
bliss of heaven, as if already approved and crowned. Not
that there is any absolute impossibility that they should
sin, fall, and be lost; but only that all who know them
are well persuaded that they will persevere and be eter
nally crowned. We do not unduly magnify the grace of
God. Read the prayer of the inspired Apostle, Eph. iii :
16 21 That they might be rooted and grounded in love
that they might kncrw the love of Christ, which passeth
knowledge might be filled with all the fullness of God and
then, " unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think." etc.
No, we do not exaggerate. Are we all "agonizing to
enter in at the straight gate, and to come up to the full
measure of privilege and duty ? Reader, are you seeking
to be thus thorough } Are you " forgetting things behind,
and reaching to those before ? Are you allowing those im~
pulsions or tendencies, which if indulged, crystalize into sin,
peaceable possession of a single inch of the territory cf your
soul ; or is the entire being, with all and singular of ap
purtenances, consecrated to the undisputed reign of Jesus ?
Do you momentarily apprehend Christ your complete Sav
ior? Do you live up to the highest point of Gospel privi
lege ; or are you content to live below it? Can you live
below privilege and be even justified? But are you emp
tied of sin and filled with God ?
312 THE LIFE OF REV. ADAM CROOKS.
CONTENTS.
Early History -. . 7
Early Ministry, 11
Call to the South 13
Dedication of the First Wesleyan Meeting House in
North Carolina 28
Opposition 31
Visit to Virginia 33
Camp Meeting 38
In Bonds 45
Other Persecutions 66
A Mob 76
In Jail 94
Release from Jail - 1 00
Observations 109
Further Activities Ill
His Marriage 112
Labors at Cleveland, Ohio 118
Election to Editorship 125
Denominational Union Movement 139
The Rally and Restoration of Confidence 151
Extract from an Inquiry into Masonry and Odd Fel
lowship 15?
Extract from Editorials , 175
Character and Characteristics 207
Home Life 219
Letter Writing 228
The Last Year 230
Obsequies and Memorial Services 256
Expressions of Sympathy and Appreciation 276
Counsel to Converts 288
Plea for Holiness 294
Processes of Salvation 300
BX Crooks, E. W.
3495 Life of Rev. A. Crooks
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